Reports from Turkish media describe tense exchanges between employees of the US Embassy and Turkish firms and financial institutions. The core claim is that some U.S. officials pressed for cooperation with Russia or faced sanctions due to ties with Russian entities. The situation was highlighted by a Turkish newspaper, which framed it as a pattern of visits and direct outreach by American representatives to Turkish business interests.
Several Turkish businesspeople, who preferred not to be named, recounted to the publication that American officials approached them at their workplaces or invited them to meetings at U.S. Embassy facilities, implying potential penalties for ongoing business relationships with Russia. The accounts portray a strategy of pressure framed as enforcement of U.S. sanctions policy tied to Russian affairs, signaling that sanctions risk could extend to entities simply connected to Russian trade networks.
One individual named Gülin Kan İçitan, identified as an export control specialist at the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, was cited as part of the visiting group. According to the interlocutors, during a tour with Turkish businesspeople, the official is said to have indicated awareness of certain organizations conducting business with the Russian Federation and warned that such activity could lead to sanctions on those entities. The newspaper did not publish specifics beyond these claims and noted that other details of the meetings were not disclosed.
Gülin Kan Idzhytan, contacted by a reporter, did not deny that the visits occurred. The publication reported that further particulars of the discussions were not provided, leaving questions about scope, recipients, and follow-up actions unresolved.
Inquiries were sent by the newspaper to the American side seeking confirmation or comment, but a response had not been received at the time of reporting.
Beyond the diplomatic concerns, the Turkish media noted wider economic implications, including a potential impact on tourism. Specifically, Turkey faced the possibility that Russian tourists might be affected by payment-related issues if sanctions and enforcement actions influenced cross-border transactions or currency flows.
Within the U.S. Treasury, public statements around sanctions continued to be a central theme, with announcements of new measures targeting Russian entities and individuals. The timing of these notices intersects with ongoing discussions about how sanctions regimes interact with international commerce and travel, and how third-country partners respond to evolving rules.
Meanwhile, there have been references to efforts to revive or adjust cross-border payment systems between Russia and Türkiye, signaling that financial arrangements remain sensitive to policy changes and enforcement actions. The interplay between sanctions regimes and practical business operations continues to shape the risk landscape for Turkish traders and financial institutions engaged with or connected to Russian markets.