Washington-Sana
European energy companies appear to have succumbed to Russia's demands to buy natural gas through a new payment system that uses the ruble currency, fearing an energy crisis, the Washington Post said.
In an article, the newspaper stated that “the gas companies in the European Union, which Russia considers unfriendly, ended up capitulating to Moscow’s demands and agreed to pay for Russian natural gas according to the new system in rubles, in violation of its previous statements.”
The newspaper pointed out that the European Union countries are discussing measures to reduce dependence on energy supplies from Russia, but in the short term they are making great efforts to avoid an energy crisis, pointing out that this matter was one of the factors in strengthening the ruble.
The newspaper pointed out that natural gas supplies from Russia to Poland and Bulgaria stopped after these countries refused to pay for gas in rubles. .
In this context, Bulgarian Finance Minister Asin Vasiliev called on the European Commission to clarify the procedures for paying for Russian gas, pointing out that the Russian company Gazprom had stopped supplying gas to Bulgaria, Poland and Finland, which refused to pay for gas in rubles, and it continues to pump to other European countries that have opened accounts in rubles to pay the value. Gas.
And the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suddenly announced yesterday the EU’s refusal to impose a comprehensive and immediate embargo on Russian oil supplies, justifying the retreat in its position, saying: “If the European Union imposes an embargo on Russian oil, it will help Moscow generate additional revenues and may make it able to transport oil.” Which you don't sell to the EU to the global market where you'll go up in prices and you get a lot of money for that.”
Earlier today, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that the European Union's embargo on Russian oil as part of the sixth package of sanctions under US pressure would be suicidal for its countries.
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