Gazprom on Friday asserted that payments for export supplies of Russian gas will be made in compliance with the rules of the Russian Federation. Gazprom said it is notifying counterparties about the procedure of paying for Russian gas in the local currency, the ruble. 

"Gazprom, as a Russian company, unconditionally and fully complies with the requirements of the Russian legislation. Notifications about the new procedure for settlements in Russian rubles have been officially sent to counterparties today," the statement said.

The corporation stressed that payments for Russian gas will be made in accordance with the rules of the Russian Federation. Gazprom added that it is a responsible partner and it is a reliable company for exporting gas to its customers.

The decision to require "unfriendly countries" to pay for Russian gas in rubles has come into effect today, April 1, after Putin's announcement on March 23. Consumers, furthermore, are required to opena special ruble account with Gazprombank in order to pay for Russian gas. Currency conversion, furthermore, will be carried out on Russian exchanges. 

In case of incomplete payment, Russian customs have the authority to ban gas deliveries. Furthermore, the government commission for the control of foreign investment in Russia can make exceptions to the new rules for individual consumers. 

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Earlier, the EU and the G7 had earlier rejected to pay in Rubles. France vocally rejected the decision, saying, “France is against paying in rubles."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated, on Thursday, that western countries would continue paying for Russian gas in euros or dollars.

"We looked at the contracts for the gas deliveries," Scholz told reporters in Berlin.

"They say that payments are made in euros, sometimes in dollars... and I made clear in my conversation with the Russian president that that will remain the case," in reference to a telephone call with the Russian President on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia will not provide free natural gas to the European market because euros and dollars would no longer be accepted after March 31.

"Unfriendly countries"

On March 7, Moscow issued a list of "unfriendly countries" that have engaged in "unfriendly" actions towards the Russian government, Russian companies and its citizens. 

Included on the list is the US, Canada, the EU, the UK, Montenegro, Switzerland, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, North Macedonia, and also Japan, South Korea, Australia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Taiwan.