EU Considers Russian Gas Payments in Roubles as Potential Breach of Sanctions
A technical and preliminary internal note from the European Commission has revealed that paying for Russian gas in roubles could potentially circumvent and violate EU sanctions. This proposed move, if implemented, would introduce additional layers of obligations on gas buyers while also stripping them of control. The EU is currently striving to present a unified stance on gas payments to Russia; however, member states hold differing positions on the matter.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has strongly criticized the plan, labeling it as blackmail. The Netherlands and Poland are expected to reject the idea of paying in roubles. Conversely, Austria, Slovakia, and Moldova are among the European countries more likely to agree to these terms. Hungary has already reached an official agreement, while Belarus transitioned to rouble payments in early April.
