Russia halted gas supplies to Poland, and Bulgaria. Credit: Pixabay/Public DomainRussia’s energy giant Gazprom has completely cut off gas supplies to both Bulgaria and Poland on Wednesday after not receiving its April payments in roubles.
The announcement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that countries deemed “unfriendly” to Russia must start paying for gas supplies from the country in roubles – something both Poland and Bulgaria have refused to do.
“If unfriendly countries do not pay in rubles from April 1, we will consider this a default on gas contracts, in which case existing contracts will be stopped,” Putin had stated.
“Unfriendly countries” are those which have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly the U.S., U.K., and members of the European Union.
Others European countries have also refused to pay in roubles – but right now Poland and Bulgaria are the only two that Russia has announced it is cutting off supplies to.
