Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, at the start of the regional summit in Kazakhstan. The Russian president proposed to his Turkish counterpart the construction of a natural gas center in Turkey.
Putin said that the construction of a center in Turkey will enable, among other things, the regulation of prices, the sale of gas at market prices and excludes the "politicization" of the issue.
In the meeting with Erdogan, Putin called Turkey "the most reliable partner" for gas supply in Europe.
The Russian president also said construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Mersin, southern Turkey, is proceeding according to plan and could begin work next year, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the modern Turkish state.
"Russia continues gas deliveries through the Turkish Stream pipeline, despite attempts to damage it," Putin added.
On the occasion of the Istanbul agreement on the source of grain from Ukraine, which was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, the Russian president complained that only a small part of the shipments still goes to the poorest countries.
"Countries that received Ukrainian wheat as part of the Istanbul Agreement should be grateful to Erdogan," Putin said.
The proposal comes as Russia seeks to maintain its energy influence over Europe as it redirects supplies from the Nord Stream Baltic gas pipeline, damaged in last month's explosions that are still under investigation.
Erdogan also defended Ankara's trade relations with Moscow, but did not comment on Putin's proposal.
Turkish mediation was vital in facilitating the signing of an agreement between Turkey, the United Nations, Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul to reopen some Ukrainian ports to unblock grain that had been stalled for months due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Turkey is one of the most active countries working to secure a permanent ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. By keeping communication channels open with both warring parties, Erdogan gives a glimmer of hope to diplomatic efforts to find a solution and achieve peace in the Ukraine crisis.