A technician checks meters at VNG's underground natural gas storage facility in Germany. Archive photoMOSCOW, May 21.The German and Italian authorities have told their companies that they can open ruble accounts to buy Russian gas without violating sanctions against Moscow, Reuters reports, citing sources. Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that contracts with Gazprom for the supply of gas, which must now be paid in rubles, have been concluded with about 54 companies, half of them have already opened accounts with Gazprombank to pay in rubles. Berlin told German gas importers that they could open accounts in rubles to pay for Russian gas without violating the restrictive measures imposed against Russia. The two sources added that Germany acted in close coordination with the EU in this matter. According to the source of the agency, the Italian government also contacted the European Commission and «received from it an explanation on how to legally buy Russian gas.»
The Hungarian Foreign Minister warned of the risk of destroying the country's economy without gas from Russia began to accept payment for gas from unfriendly states in rubles in order to get away from settlements in dollars and euros. President Vladimir Putin clarified that the refusal to operate in the Russian currency would be considered as a default on the obligations under the contracts. Since April 27, Gazprom has suspended fuel exports to Bulgaria and Poland due to non-payment. At the same time, the company warned that it would reduce transit to other countries if Sofia and Warsaw began illegal fuel sampling. After the start of the Russian special operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, the West increased sanctions pressure on Moscow. Many countries have announced the freezing of Russian assets, and calls to abandon energy sources have become louder. All this has already turned into problems for the US and Europe, provoking an increase in fuel and food prices.
