Türkiye clarifies rigid stance on gas trade with Russia

Flows must not be disrupted by the latest US sanctions on Moscow, according to the Turkish Energy Minister

Türkiye strongly opposes US sanctions on Russian gas as it cannot be replaced in the medium term, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Friday according to broadcaster TRT Haber.

Last week, Washington introduced blocking sanctions on more than 50 Russian financial institutions, including Gazprombank, linked to the eponymous gas giant, and six of its international subsidiaries. The measure has cut off Russia’s primary bank for energy-related transactions from the SWIFT interbank messaging system.

“We are against any decision that will affect the gas flow from Russia. If these sanctions come to this point, [it] will harm the Turkish economy, households and 85 million people,” Bayraktar told journalists.

The minister emphasized that Türkiye is the fourth largest gas market in Europe and that Russia is one of the nation’s key gas suppliers. Bayraktar also said that the issue is currently being addressed by the country’s finance and foreign affairs ministries.

Bayraktar also expressed hope that the five-year transit contract for gas pipeline supply from Russia to Europe via Ukraine, which expires on December 31, will be extended. Ukraine has said that it has no plans to prolong the deal. If the flow stops, the EU could potentially lose up to 5% of its total annual consumption.

“The extension of the agreement will have a positive impact on prices on the gas market. In this case, Türkiye is ready to do whatever is necessary, but I think that the agreement will still be extended,” he said, stressing that the issue of payments via Gazprombank is vital for the EU as well.

Earlier this week, media reports emerged that Ankara was in talks with Washington to secure a Russia sanctions waiver that would allow Türkiye to continue paying for imports of gas from Russia. Bloomberg cited Bayraktar as saying that the latest sanctions “may amount to something very big” for his country if no exemption is made.

Although a NATO member state, Ankara has not implemented sanctions against Russia and has maintained relations with both Moscow and Kiev. Last year, Russian supplies to Türkiye amounted to around 45% of the country’s gas imports.