Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the stability of Russian gas supplies and the option of paying in euros.

Putin met with Nehammer in Moscow on Monday. The press was not permitted to attend the meeting, which lasted approximately 90 minutes. Afterward, Nehammer stated that the trip to Moscow was a "duty" for him to try to end hostilities in Ukraine, or at the very least make some progress on humanitarian issues.

The Russian President brought up the subject of gas during the meeting and stated that "the gas supply is secured, Russia will deliver the quantity [of gas] specified in the contract, and payments can be continued in euros,” according to Nehammer.

Putin announced, on March 23, that Russia was converting payments for gas exports into rubles for "unfriendly countries." Putin directed the Russian Central Bank and the cabinet to devise a procedure for conducting ruble transactions with Europe. On April 1, new rules for the sale of Russian gas to "unfriendly countries" went into effect.

The Russian Central Bank (Bank of Russia) had put limits on the transportation of cash to "unfriendly" nations that imposed economic sanctions on Russia in response to its military operation in Ukraine on March 25

On March 7, the Russian Federation's Government adopted a list of foreign governments and territories that engage in hostile measures and sanctions against Russia, its enterprises, and individuals.

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.