China News Service, May 4. According to a report by Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao on the 4th, in view of the approaching deadline of Russia's "Ruble settlement order" for natural gas supply, the European Union recently asked its member states to prepare for Russia's possible complete interruption of natural gas supply. prepared, and said that the settlement would not be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Russian side.

Data map: "Beixi-2" natural gas pipeline project landing facility pipeline.

EU calls on member states to store gas

  According to reports, since several countries, including Germany, the largest economy in the EU, mainly rely on Russian natural gas for power generation, how to deal with Russia's "ruble settlement order" is even more complicated than embargoing Russian oil.

  After Russia on April 1 asked customers from "unfriendly countries" including EU members to pay for natural gas in rubles, it "cut off supply" to Poland and Bulgaria on April 27.

  In this regard, Pompili, Minister of Ecological Transformation of the EU's rotating presidency of France, and EU Energy Commissioner Simson said recently that all EU member states support Poland and Bulgaria and will store natural gas in case Russia cuts off the supply.

  Simson pointed out that paying according to Russian rules would violate EU sanctions.

It also noted that "all (EU) member states must develop plans to deal with a general disruption of supply".

  However, the report also pointed out that the supply contracts of several countries are about to expire, and some countries may pay according to the method proposed by Russia.

  At the same time, the report also quoted an EU draft obtained by Bloomberg showing that the EU is planning to strengthen cooperation with African countries to seek alternative sources of Russian natural gas.

Data map: After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, European oil prices continued to rise.

The picture shows a vehicle passing a gas station in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a city in southwestern France, on March 3.

New sanctions against Russia to be introduced in the near future

  On the other hand, the EU will soon propose its sixth sanctions against Russia to member states, mainly including an embargo on Russian oil and the removal of the Russian central bank from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Communication (SWIFT).

  EU officials say the embargo on Russian oil is likely to be implemented in stages, with full effect not until early 2023.

However, because Hungary and Slovakia are very dependent on Russian oil, in order to maintain EU unity, exemptions or a longer transition period may be granted to the two countries.

  According to the International Energy Agency, Hungary and Slovakia imported 96% and 58% of the crude oil and petroleum products they consumed last year, respectively, from Russia, and 26% of the EU's overall oil demand was supplied by Russia.

  The EU's foreign affairs commissioner, Borrell, revealed that the EU hopes to adopt the latest sanctions package against Russia at the next meeting of the foreign affairs committee, which is scheduled to meet on May 10 and 16.

  On March 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree on the settlement of natural gas trade with "unfriendly" countries and regions in Russia's national currency, the ruble.

From April 1, buyers from countries and regions that are "unfriendly" to Russia should open a ruble account in a Russian bank, and then pay for Russian gas purchases through this account.

  According to the gas supply contract payment deadline expires, if the foreign buyer does not pay or pay in foreign currency, and/or not pay in full, and/or pay to an unauthorized bank account, etc., will be deemed by the Russian side as If it breaches the contract, Russia will stop supplying gas.