Turkey asks US to remove Gazprombank from sanctions list

Turkey has submitted a request to the US to be removed from the Gazprombank sanctions list and Washington is considering it, the pro-government Hurriyet newspaper reported, citing its sources.

„Currently, Turkey's priority is to withdraw from this sanctions list. This issue was raised by Turkey during talks during the visit of US Secretary of State Blinken to Ankara. It was noted that the necessary applications have been submitted. The Americans also said that they are aware of the issue and are studying the proposal“, the publication writes.

The newspaper recalls that Washington imposed sanctions on Gazprombank to prevent Russia from using the international financial system. The sanctions list includes more than 50 Russian banks, more than 40 Russian securities registrars and 15 Russian financial officials.

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said that Ankara must obtain US consent to make an exception for gas purchase transactions through Gazprombank, otherwise sanctions against it will negatively affect the country's energy security.

On November 21, the US imposed sanctions on the bank and six of its foreign subsidiaries. According to the decree of the Russian president, payment in rubles for Russian gas supplies to the European Union countries and other countries that have introduced restrictive measures against Russia is organized through Gazprombank.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that options for paying for Russian gas after the sanctions against Gazprombank will be found, although this may take some time.