Compressor stationVIENNA, Mar 30 Austria will not pay for Russian gas in rubles, says Minister of Defense Claudia Tanner. «We will not pay in rubles. Here we are united with all other EU countries,» Tanner said in an interview with the PULS 4 TV channel. Earlier on Wednesday, the anti-crisis cabinet of the Austrian government, together with the energy regulator E-Control, announced the activation early warning of emergencies in the event of a cessation of gas supplies from Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 23 that Russia converts payments for gas supplies to unfriendly countries into rubles, it makes no sense to supply Russian goods to the EU and the USA and receive payment in their currency. Putin 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, he said that Russia would continue to supply gas in volumes and at prices fixed in earlier contracts, as the country values its reputation. >Austria activates emergency early warning mode
