Türkiye objects to recent US sanctions on Russia
Ankara seeks an exemption from US sanctions in order to utilize Gazprombank for payment of natural gas imports, according to Türkiye’s energy minister. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ankara is requesting an exemption to continue utilizing Gazprombank for natural gas imports, according to Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
Currently, Türkiye is negotiating with the US to obtain a sanctions waiver that would permit the country to keep using Russia’s Gazprombank for its natural gas payments, Bayraktar informed reporters on Monday.
Recently, the US Treasury Department implemented restrictions on over 50 Russian financial institutions, including Gazprombank, which is associated with the well-known Russian gas company, as well as six of its international subsidiaries. These sanctions have effectively disconnected Russia’s main bank for energy-related transactions from the SWIFT interbank messaging system, preventing it from processing dollar-denominated transactions.
Bayraktar emphasized that without a special exemption, Türkiye, which relies on imports for nearly all its gas needs, would be unable to make payments to Moscow for natural resources. According to Reuters, Russia currently supplies more than 50% of Türkiye's pipeline imports.
The Energy Minister referenced a prior waiver issued to Ankara when the US imposed sanctions on Iran in 2012, which included a provision allowing the President to grant special exemptions to countries facing “exceptional circumstances” that hindered their ability to reduce oil imports from Iran. Bayraktar contends that Türkiye requires a similar exemption for Gazprombank to ensure its natural gas supply.
“These sanctions will affect Turkey. We cannot pay. If we cannot pay, we cannot buy the goods. The foreign ministry is in talks,” Bayraktar stated.
The recent US sanctions have also drawn criticism from several European buyers of Russian gas. Last week, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused the US of attempting to undermine energy security within Central Europe by imposing new restrictions on Gazprombank.
In a Facebook post, Szijjarto remarked that any actions threatening Hungary's energy supply are “considered as an offence against our sovereignty,” expressing Budapest's opposition to such measures and reaffirming its commitment to “resist the pressure and pursue our national interests.”
He also noted that Hungary is engaging in discussions with other nations, including Bulgaria, Serbia, Azerbaijan, and Slovakia, in search of solutions to secure its energy supply.
Despite the EU's declaration of plans to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, it continues to be one of the largest importers of Russian fossil fuels, with its member states purchasing record amounts of liquefied natural gas from Moscow.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
Currently, Türkiye is negotiating with the US to obtain a sanctions waiver that would permit the country to keep using Russia’s Gazprombank for its natural gas payments, Bayraktar informed reporters on Monday.
Recently, the US Treasury Department implemented restrictions on over 50 Russian financial institutions, including Gazprombank, which is associated with the well-known Russian gas company, as well as six of its international subsidiaries. These sanctions have effectively disconnected Russia’s main bank for energy-related transactions from the SWIFT interbank messaging system, preventing it from processing dollar-denominated transactions.
Bayraktar emphasized that without a special exemption, Türkiye, which relies on imports for nearly all its gas needs, would be unable to make payments to Moscow for natural resources. According to Reuters, Russia currently supplies more than 50% of Türkiye's pipeline imports.
The Energy Minister referenced a prior waiver issued to Ankara when the US imposed sanctions on Iran in 2012, which included a provision allowing the President to grant special exemptions to countries facing “exceptional circumstances” that hindered their ability to reduce oil imports from Iran. Bayraktar contends that Türkiye requires a similar exemption for Gazprombank to ensure its natural gas supply.
“These sanctions will affect Turkey. We cannot pay. If we cannot pay, we cannot buy the goods. The foreign ministry is in talks,” Bayraktar stated.
The recent US sanctions have also drawn criticism from several European buyers of Russian gas. Last week, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused the US of attempting to undermine energy security within Central Europe by imposing new restrictions on Gazprombank.
In a Facebook post, Szijjarto remarked that any actions threatening Hungary's energy supply are “considered as an offence against our sovereignty,” expressing Budapest's opposition to such measures and reaffirming its commitment to “resist the pressure and pursue our national interests.”
He also noted that Hungary is engaging in discussions with other nations, including Bulgaria, Serbia, Azerbaijan, and Slovakia, in search of solutions to secure its energy supply.
Despite the EU's declaration of plans to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, it continues to be one of the largest importers of Russian fossil fuels, with its member states purchasing record amounts of liquefied natural gas from Moscow.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
