ANKARA, November 26. /TASS/. The payment under gas deals between Turkey and Russia can be postponed because of US sanctions against Gazprombank, a source in the Turkish energy sector told TASS.

"Considering the situation with banks, as our energy minister mentioned earlier also, it is not excluded that a certain portion of payments for gas under contracts with Russia, if it falls on the end of this year, can be postponed. The issue depends there on rigidity of contractual commitments and ability of the parties to negotiate," the source said.

"Ankara and Moscow will undoubtedly find the way of out of the current situation," a leading Turkish expert in energy consulting preferring not to be named told TASS. "It should also be expected that Turkey would be interested in postponement. Considering processes in our economy, it will be extremely comfortable to postpone such huge expenses until a later date. I think the government will take advantage of this opportunity," he added.