Romania supports the position of the European Union with regard to Russia’s demand that its gas must be paid in roubles, said the Romanian economy minister Virgil Popescu. He said Romanians have no cause for fear because neither the Romanian state, nor its companies have direct contracts with Gazprom. German chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU and the G7 believe Russia is not entitled to demand payment for gas deliveries in roubles and that European states will continue to pay in euros and dollars as laid down in the contracts. Gazprom has already sent notifications to its customers about the transition to the new payment scheme in roubles that came into force on Friday after an ultimatum from Russian president Vladimir Putin. Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow will not stop deliveries for the time being and that payments for deliveries made after 1st April will be made in the second half of the month and in May.
Eugen Cojocariu, Radio România Internațional
