ANKARA, November 2. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday confirmed plans to create an international hub on the territory of his country for the supply of Russian natural gas to Europe.

"While many countries, including in Europe, are preparing to limit energy use with the coming of winter, we don’t worry about that. Turkey is becoming a gas hub, an energy hub. Energy exports to Europe will be carried out through our territory. Let everyone who criticizes us for a balanced policy during the crisis between Russia and Ukraine take an example from us," Erdogan said, speaking in parliament.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that the gas hub project in Turkey is quite realistic and can be implemented in the short-term.

Speaking at the Russian Energy Week forum in October, the Russian leader proposed creating the largest gas hub in Europe in Turkey and redirecting the volume of gas, the transit of which is no longer possible through the Nord Stream, to this hub. According to him, it may imply building another gas pipeline system and creating a hub in Turkey, through which gas will be supplied to third countries, primarily European ones, if they are interested.

The creation of a gas hub in Turkey was discussed on October 13 in Astana at talks between the Russian and Turkish presidents. According to Erdogan, the hub should be established as soon as possible and the most suitable place for it is the Thrace region in the European part of Turkey.