On Thursday, Moscow wants to explain how the West should pay for its gas in rubles in the future. If he doesn’t, the delivery stop threatens. Europe is fighting and hoping for a bluff. But the corporations are preparing for emergencies.
Wien. “No one will deliver gas for free. And you can only pay for it in rubles.” With these words, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov summarized Moscow’s perspective on Tuesday in the escalating conflict over payment for gas supplies to Europe. He was even clearer on Monday evening on the US broadcaster PBS: “No payment – no gas.” This was the Kremlin’s reaction to the decision of the G7not wanting to comply with the Kremlin’s demand for payment in rubles, “Die Presse” reported.
The requirement
A week ago, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin surprised by announcing that “unfriendly states” (to which the entire I counts) will have to pay for their gas supplies in rubles in the future. On the one hand, this should generate demand for rubles and strengthen the exchange rate of the Russian currency. On the other hand, Russia might also increase the pressure to break technology sanctions. If the Russian central bank does not provide rubles for exchange, the only way for the West to get hold of them would be to deliver goods.
So Europe would be forced to circumvent its own sanctions. The demand was therefore rejected by the G7 group, which also includes Germany, France and Italy.
According to the German Economics Minister, Robert Habeck, payment in rubles is “not acceptable”. In Austria one is still undecided. The Federal Chancellery said on request: “The existing contracts do not provide for payment in rubles, Russia would break them unilaterally.” At the same time, Austria also wanted to “do everything to ensure the gas supply”. What is needed is a European line, “no going it alone”. The deputy Bavarian Prime Minister, Hubert Aiwanger, shows in an interview with the “Presse” that there are also different opinions in Germany: “Either I need the gas, then I have to pay for it in any currency. Or I don’t need it, then I don’t have to spend euros and dollars on it.”
