https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/turkey-starts-paying-some-russian-gas-roubles-2022-11-08/
In recent months, Russia has asked energy buyers to purchase it in roubles, rather than in their own country’s currency, in order to boost the value of the rouble. Turkey has agreed to pay for some of the Russian gas in roubles. Following the pipeline explosion in the Baltic Sea, Putin proposed a Turkish natural gas epicenter. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan concurred with the idea. Russian gasses were previously used for roughly 40% of the EU’s gas needs, but as more and more sanctions are being placed on Russia, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for them to find buyers that will turn a blind eye to the ongoing war.
Turkey’s attempt to upkeep relations with Ukraine and Russia, while trying to facilitate peace talks, and also purchasing Russian oil, is proving to be a large undertaking. Turkey is trying to stay neutral, while also serving their self-interest to the best of their ability. In this situation, however, the two seem to be mutually exclusive. In order to stay neutral and peaceful, Turkey would have to look to an outside (neutral) source for gas needs, rather than arguably the current most problematic country in the world. Russia’s desperate plea for their few gas buyers to use roubles to improve their economy seems like it would fully taint Putin’s strong and self-reliant image. I assume that this tidbit of news wouldn’t be shared in Russia.
This relates to class because Russia only ever acts out of self-interest. This demonstrates classical realist theory. It also shows the bandwagon effect through Turkey’s attempt to jump on a few different bandwagons at once.