Vladimir Putin proposes Turkey as new gas distribution centre in Europe

During the meeting in Kazakhstan, Putin said Turkey offered the most suitable way for sending gas to the European Union, and this proposed platform could allow prices to be assigned without political involvement.

Russia is seeking redirecting the supply from the Nord Stream gas pipeline pipes from the Baltic Sea, which were damaged by the blasts last month and still under investigation. Russia is blaming the West without offering evidence and rejecting assumptions it has sabotaged the pipeline itself.

Putin, on the other hand, told Erdogan that this space would be a platform not only for supply but also for price assignment, because it is a very important issue, Reuters reports.

Today, these prices are very high and we can easily fix them at the normal market level, without any political influence”, Putin said.

Even though there were no direct statements from their meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the Russian news agency RIA that both leaders have ordered quick and detailed study of this idea.

Russia has supplied about 40% of European gas before the start of its aggression in Ukraine, but has evidently reduced the pressure of the pre-explosion supply, arguing in technical problems as a result of Western sanctions.

European governments rejected this explanation and accused Moscow of using energy as geopolitical weapons.