The United States is considering lifting sanctions on Turkey and allowing the country to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets, but there’s one condition: Ankara must stop buying Russian oil.

U.S. President Donald Trump met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in the Oval Office, where he made his stance clear. Yesterday was Erdoğan’s first visit to the White House in some six years. 

“I want them to stop buying all oil from Russia while they continue their rampage against Ukraine,” the U.S. president told reporters, as cited by Hirado, referring to Turkey as one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil.

“We’ve been friends for a long time, including the four years I was in exile,” Trump said, referring to Joe Biden’s presidency. 

Sanctions were imposed on Ankara during Trump’s first term in 2020 over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems. Now, however, Turkey is looking to boost its military capabilities and wants to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin, as well as 40 F-16s. 

Asked by reporters when the sanctions would be lifted, Trump said before the talks, “almost immediately, if our meeting goes well.”