ISTANBUL, Jan 6 Ankara is negotiating a delay with Moscow payment for natural gas, said the head of the Turkish Ministry of Energy, Fatih Donmez.
«The contracts previously concluded with the Russian Federation continue to operate, we are negotiating with the Russian Federation from various aspects … We are currently discussing many issues, including deferment (of payments). Security and continuity of supply is currently the most important issue. So far, we have not had any problems with Russia,» Donmez told Haberturk TV channel.
He noted that the discussion of creating a gas hub in Turkey demonstrates Moscow's confidence to Ankara.
Russia covers about 44% of Turkey's gas needs.
In early November, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez reported that Turkey began partial payment for Russian gas in rubles and intends to intensify work in this direction.
Earlier, the agency reported that Turz The government has asked Russia to defer part of Ankara's natural gas payments until 2024 in an attempt to mitigate the economic damage from higher energy prices.