On Thursday afternoon, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Reuters that they had prepared for the Western sanctions imposed as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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The EU and large parts of the West imposed heavy sanctions on Russia when they invaded Ukraine on 24 February.
The sanctions are aimed at Russia’s financial sector, energy sector and defense, as well as goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
But according to Putin, Russia was prepared for this.
He also accuses the West of having waged an economic war against Russia for several years and that the goal of the West is to undermine Russia’s development.
“The West will try to find new reasons to impose sanctions on the country,” Putin said.
Reuters also writes that Putin has signed a decree stating that Russian gas from Friday 1 April must be paid in rubles.
If countries that buy Russian gas do not pay in rubles, Russia will stop the gas contracts.
– To buy Russian gas, they must open ruble bank accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas that is delivered, starting tomorrow, Putin says.
Germany and France reject the demand from Russia that European countries must pay for gas in rubles, and describe the maneuver as extortion, reports Reuters.
–Robert Habeck, the German finance minister, stated at a press conference on Thursday that he had not seen a new decree signed by Putin, which demands that gas must be paid in rubles.
He also stressed that Germany was ready for all scenarios.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said France and Germany rejected Russia’s demands and that Russia’s attempt to divide the West by demanding gas payments in rubles had failed.
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