REUTERS
Turkey threatens Russia with a refusal to buy gas against the backdrop of the worsening of relations with Russia provoked by recent incursions into Turkish airspace, and such a refusal may cost Russia's gas giant Gazprom $9.2 billion, according to Russian economic information agency RBC.
"We are the number one consumer of Russia's natural gas. Losing Turkey would be a serious loss for Russia. If needed, Turkey can buy natural gas from many different places," President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier told journalists.
Erdogan's harsh statements came after Russian military aircraft violated late last week Turkey's airspace on their way to Syria and were intercepted by Turkish fighter planes.
According to NATO, Turkish airspace was violated by two Russian aircraft – Su-30 and Su-24 – on October 3 and October 4. Moscow has admitted only the first violation incident.