Vladimir Putin tells Olaf Scholz gas can still be paid for in euros
Russian President Vladimir Putin (illustrative image).
REUTERS/Axel Schmidt
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
After days of pressure, finally the threat of an end to gas supplies to Europe is receding in the short term.
After several exchanges between Vladimir Putin and the German Chancellor and the Italian Prime Minister this Wednesday, March 30, the Russian President confirms: payment for gas and other raw materials remains an objective for Russia, but not immediately.
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With our correspondent in Moscow,
Anissa El Jabri
Russian gas against euros.
The rule will be respected.
In the short term anyway.
But beware, this is not a retreat of the Kremlin.
Simply, the Russian president said it to the German chancellor, discussions must be opened on the change of the modes of payment.
Many experts wonder how already signed contracts could be changed.
Above all, the Kremlin has finally explained the reason for its approach: the freezing of the Central Bank's currency reserves by the Europeans, "
a violation of international law
", he says.
“
Stealing
,” said the head of Russian diplomacy a few days ago.
►
Also read Ukraine: Westerners want to prevent Russia from using its gold
Gas against Russian rubles, the objective is therefore first to find a way to circumvent the sanctions.
The pressure is such today on the national currency that now the course of the ruble against the euro and the dollar is decided the day before for the next day by the central bank.
In the medium term, Russia is seeking, on the monetary level as elsewhere, to strengthen its independence from the West.
►
To read also G7: asking for payment of Russian gas in rubles is "not acceptable"
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Russia
Ukraine
Energies
Currencies
Vladimir Poutine
Olaf Scholz