Habeck rejects Putin
G7 countries do not pay for Russian gas in rubles
3/28/2022 3:04 p.m
With his plan to receive only rubles for Russian natural gas in the future, Kremlin chief Putin has met with rejection from the G7. This is a “clear breach of the existing contracts,” says Economics Minister Habeck. He accuses the Russian ruler of attempting a split.
According to Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck, the G7 energy ministers agree that the payment in rubles demanded by Russia’s head of state Vladimir Putin for energy supplies from Russia is unacceptable. “All G7 ministers fully agreed that this is a unilateral and clear breach of the existing agreements,” Habeck said in Berlin after a virtual meeting of G7 energy ministers.
“You have once again underlined that the contracts concluded are valid and that the companies should and must be faithful to the contract,” added Habeck. “So that means that payment in rubles is not acceptable and we call on the companies concerned not to comply with Putin’s request,” said the Vice Chancellor. Germany currently chairs the group of states, which includes Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the USA and Great Britain. The EU also took part in the round, said Habeck.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week that gas deliveries to “unfriendly countries” would only be billed in rubles. This would support the troubled Russian currency as importing countries would have to procure roubles. Germany is also one of the affected countries. So far, gas deliveries have been paid for in Germany, for example, in euros.
“Putin’s attempt to divide us is obvious,” said Greens politician Habeck. But there is great unity. “We won’t let ourselves be divided, and the answer of the G7 countries is clear: the agreements will be observed.”