After explosions - whose cause is under investigation - damaged the Nord Stream Russian gas pipeline system to Europe under the Baltic Sea, Putin in October proposed setting up a gas hub in Turkey, building on a southern route for exports.
"Does Europe need the project, given the determination of the EU countries to forego Russian gas in the nearest future?"
A source in Russia's pipeline gas exporting monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) said be believed the hub would facilitate sales.
"That will not be Russian gas, but gas from the hub," said the source, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Neither Gazprom, nor the Kremlin provided a cost estimate for the Turkish hub idea.