Russia plans in the near future to switch to payments in rubles for gas supplies to unfriendly countries. About it declared Wednesday, March 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with members of the government.
“I have decided to implement in the shortest possible time a set of measures to transfer payments, let’s start with this, for our natural gas supplied to the so-called unfriendly countries, to Russian rubles. That is, to refuse to use in such calculations all currencies that have compromised themselves, ”Putin said.
The President instructed the Central Bank and the Cabinet of Ministers to determine the procedure for transactions with Europe in rubles within a week. At the same time, Putin said that Russia would continue to supply gas in volumes and at prices fixed in earlier contracts, as the country values its reputation.
Against the backdrop of this news, the ruble has noticeably strengthened against the dollar and the euro. At the same time, the price of gas in Europe exceeded $1,500 per 1,000 cubic meters. m for the first time since the beginning of March.
As Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Novak noted on March 21, the decision of the United States and Great Britain to refuse to import Russian oil and oil products had little effect on Moscow. According to him, oil and gas production is in full volume, despite the sanctions.
On the same day, Igor Ananskikh, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy, told Izvestia that the inclusion of an oil embargo in the new anti-Russian sanctions would be “shooting yourself in the foot” for Europe.
On March 5, President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to compile a list of countries that have committed “unfriendly actions” against Russian companies and individuals. Under them, in particular, the imposed sanctions are meant. The Decree was adopted in addition to economic measures that have come into force to ensure the financial stability of the Russian Federation.
On March 7, the government approved a list of 48 states unfriendly to Russia, including the US and EU countries.
According to the document, the state, Russian citizens and companies that have foreign currency obligations to foreign creditors from the list of unfriendly countries will be able to pay them in rubles.
The conduct of a special operation to protect the inhabitants of Donbass caused dissatisfaction among many Western countries and companies, which they expressed by imposing anti-Russian sanctions. In particular, the United States imposed a ban on all oil imports from Russia.
In mid-February, due to the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian military, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics asked for recognition of their independence and announced the evacuation of the civilian population to Russia. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a corresponding decree. On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect the civilian population of Donbass.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
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