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Russia has announced a travel ban to European leaders and most MPs in response to sanctions imposed on Russia by the international community for its invasion of Ukraine. This is Moscow’s new response to the West, in parallel with the decision to demand payment for gas supplies in rubles from tomorrow, April 1.
“The restrictions apply to European Union leaders, including some EU commissioners and heads of European military bodies, as well as the overwhelming majority of members of the European Parliament who promote antiRussian policies,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a note. This measure, it said, also applies to politicians from EU member countries, as well as public figures and journalists who have “supported unlawful sanctions against Russia, fueled Russophobia or violated the rights and freedoms of the Russianspeaking population”. Russian diplomacy did not release the list of targets but said it had informed the European mission in Moscow of the move.
Putin signs decree: Gas must be paid for in rubles
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree mandating the payment of Moscow gas in rubles from tomorrow, April 1, 2022. In the event of an infringement, the contracts will be frozen. “In order to buy Russian natural gas, they (Westerners, ed.) need to open accounts in rubles in Russian banks said Putin Payments for the delivered gas will be made from these accounts starting tomorrow.” Nonpayment, Putin stressed, will be considered “bankruptcy of the buyer” with all the consequences of the case. “No one sells us anything for free, and we don’t do charity either said Putin so the existing contracts will be stopped”. In detail, however, it looks as if payments can still be made in euros or dollars: Gazprombank, a sanctionfree bank that already receives most payments for Russian gas, will handle the exchange in Russian currency.
Germany and France immediately rejected Putin’s request, calling it “blackmail”. We have to “consider all scenarios, we have to prepare because tomorrow there may be no more Russian gas,” French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said in a press conference with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck at the end of a bilateral meeting. Both ministers reiterated that Russian supply contracts will be paid for in the agreed currency and not in rubles. “It is crucial that the treaties are respected, we will avoid giving signals that we are being blackmailed by Putin, we will avoid it at all costs,” they said. According to Habeck, one of the possible hypotheses is a complete stop to gas imports from Moscow.
However, there is confusion about the current state of affairs. The decree appears to contradict what the Kremlin said on Wednesday, but today’s decree also provides for the option of continuing to pay in euros or dollars, unless approved by a Russian commission.