Paying European companies for gas supplied by Russia in rubles – is a violation of EU sanctions.
Source: EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen
“Companies whose contracts provide for payment only in dollars or euros should not accede to the Russian demand. This would be a breach of the sanctions so high risk for the companies.”
EU unity may now be tested: as payment deadlines start falling due in the next month, governments and companies across Europe have to decide whether to meet the new rules or face the prospect of gas rationing.
According to a person close to Gazprom, four European gas buyers have already paid for supplies in rubles, and 10 have set up accounts allowing them to comply with the new rules. Several companies have said they will continue paying in euros, without laying out the mechanism clearly.
In total, the list of gas buyers from the list of “unfriendly” countries includes 21 states.
See also: Gas transit to the EU may be reduced by a third due to the Russian attacks
