The Kremlin says that Russia is working on ways to export its gas in rubles, and if European countries refuse to pay for their imports in Russian currency, they will make the right decisions at the right time.
According to the informants, at the Friday meeting of EU leaders at the request of Russia last week, no general position was taken that unfriendly countries should pay for gas in rubles.
Russia’s decision in response to the escalation of US and European sanctions over Moscow’s military strike on Ukraine has raised concerns about energy security, and EU countries and banned companies are trying to understand the consequences.
Gazprom, the sole exporter of gas to the Russian Central Bank, the government and Europe, has until March 31 to submit proposals for a ruble gas payment system to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We do not supply gas for free, and this is clear,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news conference.
In an interview with the Volt Network on Friday, German Finance Minister Christine Lindner advised German fuel suppliers not to pay for Russian gas in rubles. A senior Italian government adviser also announced last week that Italy would continue to pay for Russia’s energy imports into the euro.
“The only important thing in Europe is gas, and Russia is asking us to pay in rubles,” Claudio Descalzi, CEO of the Italian energy group, said at a conference in the United Arab Emirates. “This is not in our contract and it is not in our contract.” On Mondays.
The European Union plans to reduce its dependence on Russian gas by two thirds this year and stop importing fossil fuels by 2027.
The United States announced on Friday that it will supply 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas to the European Union this year. Analysts say the US LNG facility is operating at full capacity, and any increase in US exports to Europe will reduce export costs to other regions.
According to Reuters, Russia’s gas exports to Europe last year amounted to about 155 billion cubic meters.
end of message /
