Russia Ratifies Sanctions against Turkey, Tensions on the Rise

While Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was signing a decree imposing sanctions on Turkey, two Gazprom sources told Reuters that Moscow could delay work on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project.

“We are expecting that the head of state, in all likelihood, could declare a freezing of Turkish Stream, or at least some kind of timeout should be announced," one Gazprom source was quoted as saying on Tuesday. 

However, the eventual stop "is not a simple process," given the different complexities in play, one being the tangled ties between the two counties.

Medvedev ratified on Monday the sanctions which prohibit the import of food products including poultry, fruit and vegetables. The decree is also meant to take a toll on tourism in Turkey, but it does not include the energy sector.

“The sale of vacation packages to Turkey were discontinued almost immediately. There will be flights, or maybe charter flights, to bring Russian citizens back from the Republic of Turkey, but all charter flights have been suspended. With regard to regular air service, additional security measures will be introduced” Medvedev said. 

Also on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he did not meet with Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan.  

“I did not meet with the President of Turkey; we did not see one another and did not have a meeting” Putin said in Paris.