G7 countries reject Russia’s demand to pay for gas in rubles

The G7 countries have rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand to pay for gas in rubles, Report informs citing foreign media that German Federal Minister of Economy and Climate Protection Robert Habeck said this after a virtual meeting with G7 energy ministers in Berlin today.

He said that we will not allow ourselves to be divided.

“The European Union also took part in this round of meetings. The G7 ministers agreed that the demand for payment in rubles was a `unilateral and blatant violation of the existing agreements’. Contracts are valid, and affected companies must remain committed to the contracts. This means that payment in rubles is unacceptable.”

He noted that Putin's attempt to divide us is obvious: "But there is a great unity. We will not be divided, and the answer of the G7 countries is clear: the agreements will be observed."

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that gas supplies to "unfriendly countries" would only be calculated in rubles.

This will support the troubled Russian currency, as importing countries will be forced to buy rubles.

Germany is also one of the affected countries. So far, Germany has also paid for gas supplies in euros.

Germany currently chairs the group, which includes Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the United States, and the UK.