The Kremlin believes that Turkey will not abuse its position to defer gas payments

Turkey is now one of the largest recipients of Russian gas, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He is confident that Ankara will not abuse its position to receive discounts and deferrals for gas payments.

According to Mr. Peskov, Turkey “occupies a position different from the countries of the collective West.” In particular, he noted, Turkey “retains the opportunity to use its intermediary services”, and also “has not joined the sanctions exercises of the collective West.” “And in this regard, it compares favorably both for the Turkish people themselves and from the point of view of our bilateral relations,” he told Kommersant FM during a press call.

The Kremlin spokesman specified that all issues related to gas supplies “are on the agenda of contacts at the highest and working levels.” “There is a conjuncture, a world conjuncture for gas trade, and, of course, no one is going to go beyond the bounds of reason. Our Turkish partners understand this, and so do we,” Dmitry Peskov added.

Speaking about the gas hub project in Turkey, Mr. Peskov said that the details of its creation are being worked out. He also commented on the words of the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Jozef Sikel, who expects that Europe will not buy Russian gas through a hub in Turkey. “Mr. Jozef Sikela probably knows that there are many more countries on the European continent than the Czech Republic, and they may have different positions at different stages, at different moments, different adequacy in the perception of what is happening, and so on and so forth,” believes press secretary.

Minister of Finance and Treasury of Turkey Nureddin Nebati declaredthat he wants to get a discount on Russian gas, and also asked Gazprom about the possibility of deferring payments. What discount the country wants to receive is not specified. The minister said he expected “good news” on both issues.

In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin informedthat Russia and Turkey agreed to switch to a partial payment for energy resources in rubles. In October Mr. Putin proposed create the largest gas hub in Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accepted this offer, and Ankara is already start do your part of the project. Its cost and other parameters are still unknown.

Details – in the publication “Kommersant FM” “Russian gas will be allowed through the hub”.