In this file photo taken on May 7, 2017, the S-400 air defense missile systems drive during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo)

MOSCOW, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Russia will speed up the delivery of the S-400 air defense missile system to Turkey at Ankara's request, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

"I already said that we discussed military-technical cooperation, including the implementation of the signed contract for the delivery of S-400 system to Turkey. I can only say that in response to the request of our Turkish partners to speed up the originally planned delivery terms, we reacted positively," the top Russian diplomat said at a joint press briefing in Moscow after meeting with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

When asked about when exactly Moscow will deliver the system, Lavrov said the delivery issue had been discussed among specialists but the date is confidential.

Cavusoglu said, for his part, that early delivery the system would meet Turkey's interests.

Local media reports earlier this week said Russia would start supplying S-400s to Turkey in late 2019 or early 2020, according to presidential aide for military cooperation Vladimir Kozhin.

Turkey signed a deal with Russia to buy the S-400 missile defense system in September, 2017.

The S-400 is Russia's most advanced long-range anti-aircraft missile system and can carry three types of missiles capable of destroying ballistic and cruise missiles.

Turkey is the first NATO member state to purchase the S-400 missile system.