US Sanctions: Türkiye Receives Waiver for Gazprom Settlements

Ankara claims to have received an exemption for gas settlements with Gazprombank, Orda reports, citing BNN Bloomberg.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced the exemption.

Middle East Eye previously reported that Turkish officials were exploring alternative payment methods for Russian gas imports.

US sanctions against Gazprombank, a key financial intermediary, would have prevented Ankara from paying.

Potential solutions could have been borrowing from Russian banks and indirect settlements through the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, a Rosatom project. 

Both options would have required Russian authorities' approval, however.

Middle East Eye wrote that sources claimed Turkish authorities had anticipated the sanctions and were prepared with contingency options. Reportedly, US authorities warned them and suggested ways to move forward, such as utilizing smaller unsanctioned banks.

After the announcement, reports surfaced that Ankara would seek an exemption.