Turkey may be sanctioned if moves closer to Russia - report

A U.S. official said that if Turkey were to enter into a formal economic partnership with Russia, Washington would consider recommending Western companies withdraw or decrease their economic ties with Ankara, Politico writes.

“We think that Turkey should be a global destination for business and capital, but a closer relationship with Russia will create real risks for Turkey’s integration with the rest of the world,” the official said.

"If the West can prove Turkey is evading sanctions, Washington could even go a step further by cutting off Turkey from the dollar via secondary sanctions," the article reads.

Spokesperson for the European Commission Peter Stano said it’s essential that Turkey “does not offer circumventing solutions to Russia,” adding that “we continue to monitor the situation in this regard closely.”