Putin's Order to Accept Ruble Payments for Gas Does Not Apply to Novatek, Peskov Clarifies

Russian President Vladimir Putin's directive to accept payments in rubles for Russian gas under European contracts applies to Gazprom, but it does not pertain to Novatek, stated the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by RIA Novosti.

During a conversation with reporters today, he emphasized that Novatek is a private company and that there is unlikely to be a direct order regarding it. He said, “The president did not distinguish which gas is being discussed – whether it is pipeline gas or liquefied natural gas. But the order was given to Gazprom.”

“This is an instruction for Gazprom. This is an international company, and the main instruction has been delivered to Gazprom. The president did not mention anything about Novatek,” Peskov added.

Responding to a question about whether Russia would continue to supply gas to the EU if European countries refuse to pay in rubles, the spokesman recalled that “there is an instruction from the President of the Russian Federation regarding accepting payments in rubles for Gazprom.”

“In a week, or more precisely, in the remaining four days, Gazprom must execute the contracts and develop a transparent and understandable system for how this can be done technically and materially. This information will be communicated to the buyers. We are proceeding from the current directives of the country’s leader,” Peskov concluded.