France, Germany refuse to pay Russian gas in rubla

“The contracts are in the euro and should be paid in euros and will be paid in the euro”, French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Muire said during a joint press conference with German counterpart Robert Habeck.

“We will not accept the payment method for gas [rus] into any other currency from what is said in the contract”, Le Mirei added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that under a newly signed decree on natural gas trade with “non-friendly states”, companies will have to have accounts in Russian banks and pay for contracts in ruble, CNN broadcast.

At a separate press conference on Thursday, Habeck said Germany is “prepared for all scenarios, including a ban on Russian gas flows to Europe, while Le Muire said France is “compensation” in case Russia stops remitting gas.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also insisted today that Berlin will make payments to Russian gas only in euros.

We've looked at the contracts for gas distribution and other shipments. (The contracts say that payments should be made in euros, sometimes in US dollars, but mainly in euros. And I made it clear in my conversation with the Russian president that this will remain as it is”, Scholz said in Berlin during a joint press conference with Austrian counterpart Carl Nehammer.

It's a terrible feeling of being dependent on Russian energy right now. We have to provide energy supplies to ensure the functioning of the economy, because the gas that comes from Russia is not only used by private families, but also by the industries that are related to jobs, and prosperity should be maintained,” said Nehammer.