The EU has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s request by unfriendly countries to pay Russian gas in rubles would violate existing sanctions the bloc has imposed on Moscow over a special operation in Ukraine. Agency reports Bloomberg.
The European Commission presented an analysis of Putin’s decree. The document states that the new payment mechanism will violate the restrictive measures imposed on Moscow, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and other institutions and individuals affiliated with Moscow.
According to the European Commission, the decree creates a new legal situation that could give the Russian state full control over when the gas deal will be completed and at what point the buyer will be freed from obligations.
At the end of March, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on gas trade with unfriendly countries (this list includes all EU countries), forcing these states to pay for energy resources in rubles.
At the same time, the Big Seven (G7) countries decided to call on local companies not to accept bills in rubles for Russian gas supplies. The relevant agreement was reached at an emergency meeting of the energy ministers of the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Later, the European Union also joined this decision.
On April 1, Gazprom began to send official letters to counterparties about the new procedure for payment of gas in rubles.
old hungary stated About the intention to pay for Russian gas in rubles.