ANKARA, November 26. /TASS/. Turkey and Russia continue trade in national currencies and they can similarly pay for gas, a source in banking consulting in Ankara told TASS when asked to comment on the situation with US sanctions on Gazprombank.

"Trade in the Turkish lira and ruble pair between Turkey and Russia continues. There are possibilities for that, they are relevant. This is the Emlak Katilim bank. There are no difficulties there now, excluding the commission rate. The same bank can service gas deals as well if the parties decide to do it using it," he said.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said earlier that sanctions imposed by the US on Gazprombank affected the republic, adding that the ministry was negotiating the settlement of the situation with payment for natural gas imported from Russia. Turkey receives 40% of gas from Russia, with the lack of the possibility to pay for it to hit the republic hard, he noted. Ankara wants the US to make an exception for Russian natural gas, the minister said.

On November 21, the US Department of the Treasury announced a new package of anti-Russia sanctions, which includes dozens of individuals and legal entities. Gazprombank, which was not blacklisted previously, was among those sanctioned. Gazprombank’s UnionPay cards have not been accepted in Turkey by state or private banks since November 23.