Reactions to Russia saying gas buyers must pay in roubles
(Reuters) -Following are reactions to Russian President Vladimir Putin saying overseas patrons of Russian gasoline should pay in roubles from April 1, and that contracts can be halted if these funds weren’t made.
GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER ROBERT HABECK
“With regard to the risk, demand or consideration – one would not know methods to name it any extra – to be made to pay in rouble, it’s essential for us that the contracts are revered.”
“It’s important for us to not give a sign that we are going to be blackmailed by Putin.”
GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ
“By all means, it stays the case that firms need, can and can pay in euro.”
GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER CHRISTIAN LINDNER
“We’re satisfied that contracts are contracts. The contracts are based mostly on euro and so we are going to proceed to pay for vitality imports in euro.”
“We’ll look intimately into what’s being proposed and demanded. However it’s clear for us there may be no political blackmail.”
FRENCH ECONOMY MINISTER BRUNO LE MAIRE
“Contracts are contracts.”
DUTCH GAS TRADING CORPORATION GASTERRA
“Worldwide agreements comprise clauses about funds and forex. Sticking to the settlement stays our place.”
DUTCH ENERGY COMPANY ENECO
After Putin’s announcement, a spokesperson mentioned there was no change to the next assertion, which it made the day before today:
“Eneco has a long-term contract with Wingas, a German subsidiary of Gazprom, for supply till 2030. Eneco expects its present contract with Wingas in euros to be honoured.”
POLISH GAS COMPANY PGNiG
“PGNiG would not present detailed feedback on contractual clauses. The corporate stays in present contact with Gazprom,” the corporate press workplace mentioned.
Danish vitality agency, Orsted, which has a long-term take-or-pay contract with Gazprom, mentioned it was nonetheless ready to listen to from the Russian agency and declined to remark additional.
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON’S SPOKESPERSON
Requested if there have been any circumstances through which Britain would pay in roubles for Russian gasoline:
“That’s not one thing we shall be trying to do.”
ANALYSTS AT FITCH SOLUTIONS
“Probably, the Kremlin is appearing from a worry that Gazprombank will quickly be sanctioned too, amid a wider bid by the European Union to chop vitality ties with Russia utterly.”
“The long-term contracts for pure gasoline purchases from Russia are denominated in EUR (euros) and due to this fact, with out contract renegotiation, there isn’t any authorized foundation for Russia to implement this demand.”
“Russia must bodily halt gasoline flows to EU 27 (European Union member states) to pressure the problem, marking a significant escalation not even carried out on the top of the Chilly Warfare. It might mark one other main monetary blow to Russia’s coffers.”
(Compiled by Isla Binnie; modifying by Barbara Lewis)
