Russia’s order to pay for gas supplies has caused skepticism in the German government. However, its position remains the same: “We only pay in euros”.
Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s telephone assurances to Chancellor Olaf Solz that he would continue to pay for gas in euros or dollars, written guarantees never came. Instead, the Kremlin issued a decree to pay for Russian gas supplies in rubles only.
The reaction of the German Chancellor and the Ministers of Finance and Economy was immediate and categorical. “We only pay in euros or dollars,” said Chancellor Olaf Solz.
Government and analyst readings
But how does the German government interpret the Russian “ultimatum” and how will it move from now on? “We are prepared for any eventuality, whatever Putin decides,” said Economy Minister Robert Hubbek. “But we are not being blackmailed,” while Finance Minister Christian Lindner sent a message to Moscow: “There will be payments to Gazprom Bank in rubles “.
According to analysts, the first reading decodes this decree as “a message addressed to the interior of Russia”, an attempt by Vladimir Putin to show that Russia is beyond sanctions and that it can, even now, impose payments in rubles. for natural gas. The second reading has to do with an “unknown X”, according to analysts, with an currently unstable scenario for the next day, which only the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin himself knows.
Germany evaluates gas flow
In this sense, the German Government is committed to assessing the situation and redistributing it. At present, however, experts estimate that a total cessation of Russian gas supplies is unlikely, given the developments on the Ukrainian front and in the field of the Russian economy – with the ruble faltering and Western sanctions already considered extremely serious.
Germany, however, now assesses the flow and reserves of gas daily, from Monday to Friday, after the activation of the first level of the emergency mechanism to ensure the flow of gas in Germany. The competent regulatory authority based in Bonn (Βundesnetzagentur) is already in advanced contacts with the German industry, considering all the possibilities, even the worst-case scenario of further escalation on the Russian side and in the energy field. Dimitra Kyranoudi, Berlin
Source: Deutsche Welle
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