In a televised statement Thursday, Mr Putin said he had signed a decree to that effect, adding that the changeover to the ruble was designed to “strengthen our sovereignty”. He said: “In order to buy Russian gas, they have to open ruble accounts in Russian banks. “From these accounts will be made the payments for the natural gas delivered from tomorrow. “If such payments are not made, we will consider it a weakness of the buyers, with all the consequent consequences. “Nobody is selling us anything for free and we are not going to do charity either – that is, the existing contracts will be terminated.” However, existing contracts will be honored, provided customers follow the new rules, he added. The new restrictions are likely to concern Germany and Poland, especially as major buyers of Russian gas supplies. However, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the Western allies were determined not to be “blackmailed” by Moscow, calling the move an attempt to divide the Western allies over energy supply, which “failed”. Bruno Le Maire, France’s finance minister, said the two countries had rejected Putin’s demands. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday that Warsaw would end all Russian energy imports by the end of the year. Mr Putin is believed to have been surprised by the strength and scope of Western sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
