Speaking after the emergency meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels, French minister Barbara Pompili says ministers agreed that the conditions of their contracts should be respected.
She says the Commission provided guidance on legality of paying in rubles.
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson says she explained to ministers that payment in rubles constitute a clear violation of sanctions against Russia, "and cannot be accepted".
"Countries should not have any illusions they can rely on the good faith of Gazprom in this matter"
🇪🇺Commissioner Simson disputes the Bloomberg story that a number of European countries are already paying for #RussianGas in rubles.
She says she’s not aware of any EU country that is doing so or has announced their intention to do so.
🇫🇷Minister Pompili also says no country is paying in rubles. “I can confirm that all member states said sanctions need to be in force and contracts need to be respected”.
But are they choosing to ignore countries paying in euros but converting to rubles? That is the loophole.
Bloomberg reporter directly asks about this converting-in-the-bank loophole. Does it violate the sanctions?
“As was requested today by ministers, we will provide more guidance as to what companies can and cannot do within our sanctions framework in the coming days,” says Simson.
Separately, 🇫🇷Minister Pompili confirms there was no agreement today on the gas storage directive proposal but "discussions progressed well and I think we will be able to get an agreement soon".
🇫🇷Minister Pompili stays mum on what was discussed today about a possible EU embargo on #RussianOil.
"The subject we were discussing today was #RussianGas. Talks on oil are continuing this week, you'll have information in the coming days."
🇪🇺Energy Commissioner Simson made it clear to energy ministers in emergency meeting today that giving in to #Putin's demand to pay for #RussianGas in #rubles would violate EU sanctions.
But what if they pay the bank in euros and it's then turned into rubles? That's still unclear
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