Turkey and Russia have reached a consensus on the issue of mutual settlements in national currencies, including the energy sector, Fatih Donmez, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey, said on Tuesday.
"Our trade with Russia continues in many areas. Energy is undoubtedly one of the biggest expenditures, but it's also about tourism, food. For almost 5-6 years, both leaders (Turkish and Russian Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin - TASS) have expressed their intention to continue the path to trade in national currencies. By now, it has accelerated this process even more. During our last meetings, there was an agreement [to pay for Russian gas in rubles]. In this regard, of course, it is necessary to complete some technical work," he said in an interview with TRT.
At the same time, Donmez confirmed that Turkey and Russia reached a consensus on this issue, and partial trade between the countries in national currencies had already begun earlier.
On September 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, during which he said Ankara had reached an agreement to pay for 25% of Russian gas supplies in rubles.
A few days later Fatih Donmez, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, said that an agreement on 25 percent payment for Russian gas supplies in rubles would take effect in the near future.
On October 6, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia and Turkey had converted part of the payments for Russian gas supplies to rubles.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Moscow-Live/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS