Russian President Vladimir Putin. File photoMOSCOW, Mar 24Russia will transfer payments for gas supplies to unfriendly countries into rubles, President Vladimir Putin said. The head of state stressed that it no longer makes sense for Moscow to supply Russian goods to the EU and the USA for dollars and euros. «Therefore, I decided to implement the complex as soon as possible measures to transfer payments — let's start with this, with our natural gas — to transfer payments for our natural gas supplied to so-called unfriendly countries for Russian rubles. That is, to refuse to use all compromised currencies in such calculations, «Putin noted. At the same time, the Russian leader indicated that supplies would continue in accordance with the volumes and prices specified in the contracts. Against this background, the Russian currency began to grow, the dollar exchange rate on the Moscow Exchange fell below 100 rubles. «Does not threaten the contract» Russia's decision to pay for gas supplies to rubles does not threaten the current contract with Bulgaria, said the head of the Ministry of Energy of the country, Alexander Nikolov.
"Apr nothing threatens rural supplies… There is a financial counterparty in Bulgaria that can perform this operation in rubles… We are checking the scenarios… There is no risk for payments under the existing contract", the minister said.
The head of the Serbian Gas Association, Vojislav Vuletić, also said that the transition to paying for Russian gas in rubles would not be an obstacle to supplies, technical difficulties are possible only at the first stage. «/>Europe has nothing to replace Russian gas, Novakon said that he considers it correct that the seller wants to receive payment for his goods in his own national currency. so that they pay us something in rubles and the exchange of funds will begin,» Vuletic said. The head of the Gas Association of Serbia added that Belgrade is interested in receiving gas from Russia, on the new terms of supply of which it will be possible to freely agree. «The most important point «The transfer of payments for gas for unfriendly countries into rubles will affect the stabilization and strengthening of the financial system of Russia, said the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.» time, but also, in the future, will create the preconditions for the formation of new oh culture of economic cooperation based on trust, on mutual respect between partners,” said Matvienko. The parliamentarian expressed the opinion that the decision of the Russian leader would be a signal for all conscientious participants in world trade. She added that she considered it necessary to move away from settlements in currencies that had compromised themselves , and switch to those to which there is confidence. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. In response, the West announced new anti-Russian sanctions, and calls in Europe to reduce dependence on Russian energy resources began to sound louder. However, the sanctions pressure on Moscow has already turned into economic problems for Western countries, causing an increase in fuel and food prices. with Russia for gas