European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today called cutting gas supplies from Russia to Poland and Bulgaria “blackmail” but said the bloc was “prepared” for the shortage of supplies following the announcement by President Vladimir Putin’s government “.
The announcement of the suspension was made yesterday by the Gazprom company, accusing the company of not having received payments in rubles from the two EU (European Union) member countries.
Gazprom’s announcement is yet another attempt by Russia to blackmail us with gas. We are prepared for this scenario. We are defining a coordinated EUwide response. Europeans can trust that we are united and in solidarity with the Member States concerned.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Gazprom’s announcement is yet another attempt by Russia to blackmail us with gas.
We are prepared for this scenario. We are planning our coordinated EU response.
Europeans can trust that we are united and in solidarity with the Member States concerned.
Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 27, 2022
Bulgaria and Poland refused to pay for the shipment in Russian currency. The demand was made by Russia to countries deemed “hostile” in a bid to protect the ruble’s value from sanctions imposed since the war in Ukraine began on February 24.
According to Bloomberg news agency, four European buyers have already paid for Russian gas in rubles, a person close to Gazprom said.
Bulgaria also denounced “unacceptable blackmail”.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Pettkov today denounced “unacceptable blackmail” after Russia’s Gazprom group suspended gas supplies to the country and Poland, both members of the European Union (EU).
Picture: UOL Art.No
The suspension, which was decided because these countries did not pay for supplies in rubles, as Russia is demanding in response to Western sanctions, “represents a serious breach of contract,” Petkov said.
“We will not give in to such blackmail,” he said.
*With information from AFP