The Russian Minister of Energy, Alexander Novak, announced that the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project—which is planned to stretch from Russia to Turkey across the Black Sea—could be put back on the 2016 agenda, Interfax news agency reported.

“If our partners are interested in the implementation of the project which we have sent to Turkey, we will continue the [respective] talks,” Novak said. “However, the development of a corresponding infrastructure in central and southeastern Europe is an important condition here.”

In November 2015, Russian Minister of Economic Development Alexey Ulyukaev had informed, against the backdrop of the Turkey’s downing a Russian warplane, that Russia was suspending several projects—including the Turkish Stream—with Turkey.   

On November 24, 2015, the Turkish air force shot down a Russian Su-24 attack aircraft/interdictor nearby the Turkish-Syrian border. The warplane was taking part in the antiterrorism operations in Syria. This incident has led to the ongoing strain in Turkey-Russia relations.