Ukraine-News: No gas for rubles - G7 countries reject Putin's demand

Created: 2022-03-28Updated: 2022-03-28 2:44 p.m

By: Thomas Schmidtutz

Breaking news from IPPEN MEDIA.

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The G7 countries reject the payment in rubles demanded by Russia.

This further escalates the dispute over Russian gas supplies.

Berlin - The countries of the G7 group have rejected Russian demands for gas bills to be paid in rubles.

That's what Federal Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck said on Monday in Berlin after a virtual meeting with the G7 energy ministers.

Germany currently chairs the group of states, which includes Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the USA and Great Britain.

The EU also took part in the round, said Habeck.

The G7 ministers agreed that the demand for payment in rubles was "a unilateral and clear breach of the existing treaties," said Habeck.

Concluded contracts are valid, affected companies have to be faithful to the contract.

"So that means that payment in rubles is not acceptable."

In view of the sanctions imposed by the West over the Ukraine war, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week that gas deliveries to "unfriendly states" would only be billed in rubles.

This would support the troubled Russian currency as importing countries would have to procure roubles.

Germany is also one of the affected countries.

So far, gas deliveries have been paid for in Germany, for example, in euros.

Ukraine News: Habeck sees a split attempt by Putin

"Putin's attempt to divide us is obvious," Habeck said.

But there is great unity.

"We won't let ourselves be divided, and the answer of the G7 states is clear: the agreements will be complied with."