Business with Russia, US threatens to impose sanctions on Turkish companies

 The US has warned Turkey of sanctions for doing business with Russian companies.

According to the news agency AFP, a major Turkish business association has confirmed that it received a letter from the US Treasury Department warning of sanctions on continuing to do business with Russia.

Concerns are growing in Washington that the Russian government and businesses are using the Turkish route to avoid sanctions imposed by Western countries.

After the invasion of Ukraine six months ago, the United States and European countries imposed sanctions on the Russian government and its businesses.

Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to expand economic cooperation during a conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

According to the officially released data, between May and July this year, exports from Turkey to Russia increased by 50% compared to last year.

Turkey has increased the amount of oil it imports from Russia, and the two countries also agreed to pay Kremlin-linked natural gas giant Gazprom in Russian currency.

U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Ademu had informed Ankara of Washington's concerns over trade with Russia in a rare visit to Turkey in June.

NATO member Turkey has decided to remain neutral in the war between Russia and Ukraine and has refused to be part of global sanctions against Moscow.

Following Wale Ademi's visit, the US Treasury Department has now issued a letter warning the Turkish-American Business Association and the American Chamber of Commerce in Turkey not to risk self-imposed sanctions.

The Turkish Business Association said in a statement that the letter has been sent to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

"Any person or company that provides assistance to individuals on the US sanctions list risks being subject to the same sanctions," the letter reads.