Russia wants EU countries to pay for gas in rubles. The EC proposed a compromise

A few weeks ago, he issued a decree according to which the so-called countries hostile to the Russian Federation from April 1 this year. they are to pay for Russian gas in rubles. otherwise, there is a risk that the supply of raw material will be interrupted. The list includes, among others all countries, UK, Canada, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Japan and South Korea. This is Putin’s retaliation for the sanctions imposed on Russia after her.

The EC has found a compromise on payments for Russian gas?

Most EU countries, including Poland, did not agree to this condition, but – as the biznesalert.pl website pointed out, the European Commission offered Russia a compromise. There is no objection in the decree to payments in dollars or euros made to a Gazprombank sub-account, which would exchange currencies for rubles.

On Friday, April 23, the time to settle payments in the Russian currency expired. The EC published that day, arguing that “the sanctions in force do not exclude contact with Gazprom or Gazprombank, apart from the refinancing bans” specified in the document. “Similarly, they do not prohibit opening an account with Gazprombank. Such involvement should not, however, violate other restrictions introduced by regulation 833/2014 or regulation 269/2014 of the European Council,” we read.

“EU companies could ask Russian contractors to fulfill their contractual obligations in the same way as before the decree was adopted, i.e. by depositing the amount due in euros or dollars” – added and emphasized that “the procedure for derogating the requirements of the decree is not yet bright”.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, asked on Friday about what decision Poland will take, replied that the government was waiting “for the EC’s interpretation to determine whether such a payment would violate the sanctions or not”. – We stick to the line that is developed in the European Commission. And only then can we decide whether to pay in rubles or not, stressed the Prime Minister.

– If this is recognized by the European Commission as an element that does not break the sanctions package, then all countries will make decisions on their own. If it is the other way around, then […] we, being in the vanguard of all those who demand the strongest sanctions, will also stick to the provisions proposed by the European Commission – said Morawiecki.

Poland will help Slovakia become independent from Russian gas

On Friday, the head of government met with his Slovak counterpart Eduard Heger. After the talks, Morawiecki emphasized that Russia was using economic and resource instruments to destabilize Europe. The Polish prime minister praised the attitude of Slovakia, which – as he said – despite its high energy dependence on Russia, wants to change this.

– We talked very specifically about how, together with the opening of the gas interconnector between Poland and Slovakia, help Slovakia become independent also from the Russian one. This is real solidarity. We will do it. I promised the Prime Minister this type of support – assured Mateusz Morawiecki.

– Currently, the construction of a gas connection between Poland and Slovakia is being completed. This year, this connection should already be launched, we expect a test run in July. I will be happy if, together with the Prime Minister, we will be able to participate in this, added Eduard Heger.

The Yamal contract ends this year, and even before the Russian aggression on Ukraine, Poland decided not to extend this contract. The Poland-Slovakia interconnector will be 164 kilometers long. It will be able to transport up to 4.7 billion cubic meters of gas annually towards Slovakia or up to 5.7 billion cubic meters towards Poland.

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