Turkey is conducting intensive negotiations with the United States to lift sanctions against Russia's “Gazprombank”, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said, Anadolu Agency reports, quoted by News.bg.
The sanctions imposed by Washington on November 21 affect one of the key Russian banks that processed payments for Russian gas deliveries to Europe. According to Bayraktar, these restrictions put Turkey in a critical position as they block payments for vital energy resources.
„If we cannot pay, we will not be able to buy gas, which will lead to serious problems in industry and energy security”, the minister stressed.
Russian gas: vital for Turkey
Last year, Russia provided about 42% of natural gas imports to Turkey. Bayraktar reminded that as winter approaches, the need for reliable energy supplies becomes even more pressing.
The minister compared the current situation to previous exemptions granted by the US in 2018, when sanctions against Iran did not prevent Turkey from importing natural gas. “We are looking for such an exception”, said Bayraktar.
Regional and infrastructural implications
Sanctions against “Gazprombank“ also threaten the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Turkey – "Akkuyu", which is being developed in cooperation with Russia. Construction has already been delayed for months, with an original completion date of 2023.
Hungary has also opposed the sanctions, stressing that they threaten the region's energy stability. According to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, the countries of the region are discussing alternative solutions for continuing energy supplies.
US Position
The Biden administration has stood firmly behind the sanctions, emphasizing the need to pressure Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. However, there are still no clear indications of a possible exception for Turkey.
Turkey continues diplomatic efforts, with Bayraktar stressing that the decision to lift sanctions “is not a matter that can be resolved overnight”.