Buying gas in rubles.. Russia reveals a new development

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday that a number of Russian gas buyers have agreed to change the payment currency to the Russian ruble.

“We expect other importers to make a decision (switching to the use of the ruble),” he added, in comments published in a magazine for the ministry, according to “Reuters”.

He did not disclose the identity of the customers who had already switched to the use of the ruble.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that buyers of Russian gas from “unfriendly” countries should pay in rubles, a move rejected by the European Union under the bloc’s sanctions regime against Moscow.

Putin has warned Europe that it risks cutting gas supplies if it does not pay in the Russian currency, as he wants to respond to sanctions imposed over what Russia calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
In March, he proposed to buyers of Russian energy products to open accounts in Gazprom Bank, where payments in euros or dollars would be converted into rubles.

The Armenian Economy Minister, Vagan Krupyan, said in an interview with the Russian media group “RBC” that the country made several payments for the purchase of Russian natural gas in rubles.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Monday that his country intends to pay for Russian gas in euros through Gazprom Bank.