The High Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, denied allegations that the Union is exporting its products to Russia, which is subject to European sanctions, via Turkey.
This came in response to his answer to the questions of parliamentarians during a session of the General Assembly of the European Parliament held in the French city of Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Spanish MP Anthony Comín Oliveris claimed that Turkey is helping Russia evade sanctions by selling European Union products, and asked him about the Union's action in this regard.
Borrell said that he discussed this issue with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in the UAE about two weeks ago.
Borrell indicated that Cavusoglu provided him with information about Turkey's imports from the European Union and Turkey's exports to Russia.
He added, "This information shows that Turkey exports large quantities to Russia, but there is no significant increase in Turkey's imports from the European Union. So according to the statistics I obtained, there does not seem to be such a hypothesis that the European Union has established an export triangle to Russia through Turkey.
He also pointed out that Turkey is not on the same track as the European Union in imposing sanctions on Russia.
He continued, "We would have liked Turkey to be with us on the same path because it is a member of the customs union, but I insist on the statistics that Cavusoglu gave me. There is an increase in Turkish exports to Russia, but there is no similar increase in European Union exports to Turkey."
Since February 24, Russia has been waging a war against Ukraine, which has resulted in angry international reactions and the imposition of "tough" economic and financial sanctions on Moscow.