In a press release issued on the cabinet's website, Russia announced that it has approved a draft legislation that will allow Russia to ratify its agreement with Turkey on the TurkStream natural gas pipeline project.

The news release, which was released by the official website of the Russian government, stated: "the government decided at a meeting on Thursday to approve the draft federal law on ratification of the agreement between Russia and Turkey on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project and to send the document to the State Duma [the lower house of Russia's parliament]."

Russia’s TurkStream ratification follows Turkey’s ratification of a bill for the same project on 2 December, which was signed into law by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to the Daily Sabah, Turkish and Russian officials signed an intergovernmental agreement in October. Parliament and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later approved the agreement in November.

The Russian Energy Ministry and its Foreign Ministry jointly prepared the bill for the TurkStream project, which is set to supply Russian natural gas both to and through Turkey. One line is expected to supply the Turkish market, while another is set to carry gas to Europe.

According to Sputnik News, construction of the pipeline is expected to begin in 2017 and end in late 2019.