The U.S. says Russia is trying to use Turkey to circumvent sanctions
U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Adejemo warned Turkish Deputy Finance Minister Yunus Elitas in a phone call a few days ago that Russia was trying to use Turkey to bypass Western sanctions against Russia.
Turkey responded that it would not allow any sanctions violations.
According to a Reuters report on August 21, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that Adejemo warned Elitas that Russian entities and individuals were trying to use Turkey to circumvent Western sanctions against Russia over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. imposed sanctions.
In addition, Adejemo and Elitas also discussed the current sanctions imposed on Russia.
In this regard, the Turkish Ministry of Finance stated that Elitas emphasized the long-term political and economic relations between Turkey and Russia and Ukraine, but Elitas also assured Adejemo that the Turkish authorities would not make any violations against the country. Russia's sanctions, Turkey's position on the current sanctions (against Russia) has not changed.
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met, The Washington Post reported.
After the meeting, the leaders of the two countries issued a joint statement, saying they agreed to boost bilateral trade and cooperate more closely in the fields of transportation, agriculture, industry and finance.
According to the report, Western countries and Ukraine are concerned that Russia will seek help from Turkey to bypass sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia.
Although Turkey is a NATO member, the country has not imposed sanctions on Russia like other NATO countries.
Turkish Presidential Communications Director Alton previously told Reuters that the way to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not to ignore Russia and that diplomacy and peace must prevail.