Putin says Russia will enforce rouble payments for gas, prepared to halt contracts

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he had signed a decree saying foreign buyers, or so-called "unfriendly states," must pay in roubles for Russian gas from April 1, and contracts would be halted if these payments were not made.

"If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either - that is, existing contracts will be stopped," Putin said in televised remarks.

Western companies and governments have rejected the move as a breach of existing contracts, which are set in euros or dollars.

Russia supplies about a third of Europe's gas, so energy is the most powerful lever at Putin’s disposal as he tries to hit back against sweeping Western sanctions over his invasion of Ukraine.

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