MOSCOW:
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday on new rulesof natural gas trade with “unfriendly” countries and regions, vowing tohalt existing contracts if these buyers refuse to pay in roubles.
“Today I signed a decree … To purchase Russian natural gas, they mustopen rouble accounts in Russian banks. It is these accounts that will beused to pay for the gas supplies, starting April 1,” Putin told agovernment meeting.
“If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the partof buyers responsible for all the ensuing consequences. No one sells usanything for free, and we are not going to do charity either,” he said.
Western countries use the financial system as a weapon and their companiesrefuse to fulfill contracts with Russian entities and individuals, Putinstressed.
When Russian assets in US dollars and euros are frozen, it makes no senseto use the currencies of Western countries, he noted.
Putin called the transfer of payments for Russian gas to roubles “animportant step towards strengthening our financial and economicsovereignty.”
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Russia will consistently and systematically move in this direction andincrease the share of foreign trade settlements in roubles and currenciesof reliable partners, the president said.
Putin said at a government meeting last week that Russia will reject USdollars or euros and only accept roubles for its natural gas supplied to”unfriendly” countries and regions, including the European Union (EU)members and the United States.
Western countries have taken “illegitimate decisions” to freeze Russianassets, thus undermining the reliability of their currencies, he said.
Some EU countries have voiced opposition to Russia’s new rules on gastrade. – Xinhua
