Peskov Discusses Payment in Rubles for Russian Gas

The methods for paying in rubles for Russian gas are currently being developed, but it can be said with absolute certainty that Russia will not supply gas for free, stated Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of Russia, as reported by RIA Novosti.

“The process of supply is very, very complicated. It is not like buying some product in a store where you go and pay at the checkout, so it encompasses the supply, the payment, and the balancing of accounts; it is a long, drawn-out process. All methods are currently being developed,” Peskov told reporters.

He elaborated that the issue is being discussed among various agencies, including with Gazprom. According to him, European volumes of oil imports from the Russian Federation will decrease, but overall, it will be compensated by shipments from the eastern direction.

Commenting on Germany's plans to abandon oil imports from the Russian Federation, Peskov noted that there is the Southeast Asian market in the east. “Of course, the decrease in oil volumes will be compensated by shipments from the east. One cannot exclude the possibility that some volumes will be cut, but, in any case, we reiterate once again that the global market is much more diverse than just the European one. Although, of course, the European market is premium,” said Peskov in response to a question about Germany preparing technical solutions to stop oil imports from Russia this year.