Germany and France refused Russian President Valdimir Putin's demand to pay for the gas in the rouble, noting that it is an unacceptable breach of contracts.
Speaking during a news conference, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said he had not yet seen the new decree signed by Putin regarding the gas payments in roubles, adding that Germany was prepared for all scenarios, including a stoppage of Russian gas flows to Europe.
Habeck affirmed that this step is an attempt to pide Western allies by requiring gas payments in roubles, stressing that they are determined to not be "blackmailed" by Russia.
In the same vein, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner emphasized that Germany will continue paying for Russian energy imports in euros.
Speaking at a joint news conference with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, Lindner said that the two countries agreed that there could be "no political blackmail" linked to the question of gas imports.
Putin announced, on Thursday, that Moscow will stop supplying gas to countries it considers “unfriendly” unless they pay in roubles.
The decree highlights the mechanism foreign buyers will have to pay for the Russian gas in roubles. They will have to open Russian bank accounts both in foreign currency and in roubles.
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