Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that a natural gas hub could be established in Turkey fairly quickly and predicted that many customers in Europe would be willing to sign contracts, Reuters reported.

Earlier this month, Putin proposed Turkey as a base for gas supplies after explosions damaged the Nord Stream pipeline through the Baltic Sea in September. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he agreed with the idea.

Putin stated that it is very difficult to work directly with European trading partners. The European Union, which previously relied on Russia for about 40% of its gas needs, is trying to wean itself off Russian energy.

“It is easier for us to work with Turkey. President Erdogan is a man of his word… and it is easier for us to control the Black Sea,” Putin said at a televised press conference.

“This is quite a realistic project, and we can do it quite quickly, and there will be enough people who want to sign a contract… I have no doubt that there are many willing in Europe,” he said.

Putin also announced that Russia’s Gazprom was given permission to examine the damage caused by the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Moscow accused the British naval forces of responsibility, London denies this accusation.

Sweden and Denmark concluded that the four leaks on Nord Stream 1 and 2 were caused by explosions.

Putin said the explosions tore a 40-meter pipe from Nord Stream 1 and threw it into Nord Stream 2, causing damage. According to him, a total of 259 meters of rupture occurred in Nord Stream-1.