Putin tells Turkey's Erdogan: Russia supplying gas to Turkey via Black Sea without interruptions

Putin tells Turkey's Erdogan: Russia supplying gas to Turkey via Black Sea without interruptions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reassured Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Russia will continue to supply gas to Turkey through the Black Sea without interruptions. The assurance comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, particularly due to recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries and oil infrastructure, which have led to fuel shortages in certain parts of Russia.

According to the latest reports, Russia has been facing significant challenges in maintaining its fuel supply chain. Gas stations in several regions, including the Far East and Crimea, have run dry, forcing motorists to wait in long lines and officials to implement rationing or cut off sales altogether [1]. The wholesale prices of A-95 gas, the highest octane fuel, have soared to record highs, with prices spiking by about 50% compared to January levels. This surge in demand is attributed to farmers seeking to bring in the harvest and Russians hitting the roads for their last big vacation of the summer.

The Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted an arc of refineries from Ryazan, south of Moscow, to Volgograd, causing damage and hampering production. Between August 2 and August 24, Ukraine attacked oil infrastructure at least 12 times, with at least 10 of these attacks targeting sites in the Ryazan-Volgograd arc. While these refineries are resilient, the attacks have slowed production, leading to a fall in gasoline and diesel production [1].

Despite these challenges, Putin's assurance to Erdogan underscores Russia's commitment to maintaining its gas supply to Turkey. This assurance is crucial for Turkey, which relies heavily on Russian gas imports, particularly through the Blue Stream pipeline. The pipeline, which runs under the Black Sea, is a critical link for Russian gas exports to Europe and the Middle East.

The assurance comes as the US Navy has been conducting regular surveillance missions in the Black Sea using P-8A Poseidon aircraft, which have been intercepted by Russian Sukhoi fighter jets. These missions are part of NATO's broader efforts to observe Russian naval movements and maintain maritime situational awareness in the region [2].

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the resulting geopolitical tensions have led to increased scrutiny of Russia's energy infrastructure and supply chains. However, Putin's assurance to Erdogan suggests that Russia is determined to maintain its energy exports, despite the challenges posed by the conflict and the Ukrainian drone strikes.

References:
[1] https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/russia-faces-fuel-shortages-after-ukrainian-drone-strikes-on-refineries-125082700299_1.html
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/footage-shows-russian-sukhoi-intercepting-us-navy-p-8a-poseidon-over-black-sea/articleshow/123551687.cms