Summary
Russian energy giant Gxazprom says it has cut gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria over their refusal to pay in roubles
Both Ukraine and the EU say Russia is using energy to try and blackmail countries supporting Ukraine
Bulgaria accuses Gazprom of breaching its contract, while Poland says it can manage the situation
The EU is holding emergency gas talks to decide how to respond but says it has contingency plans in place
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has meanwhile accused Russian special services of carrying out attacks in a breakaway region of Moldova
Russia’s ground invasion of Ukraine is slowly making progress, the Institute for the Study of War think tank says
Multiple explosions are heard in the Russian city of Belgorod, about 40km (24 miles) north of the Ukrainian border, with an ammunition depot on fire
While Poland and Bulgaria are the first in the EU to have their Russian gas supplies cut off, they’re not the only countries to have refused Moscow’s demand that deliveries be paid for in roubles – which Gazprom says is the reason it’s turned off supplies this morning.
Other countries report that they are continuing to receive gas normally include:
Austria, which has continued paying for its Russian gas in euros, said this morning that supplies were continuing unrestricted. It receives around 80% of its gas from Russia.
Similarly, Germany has also refused to pay for its gas in roubles. Last night its network regulator said it was monitoring the situation but said the security of its supplies was “currently guaranteed.”
The only EU country to offer to pay for its Russian gas in roubles is Hungary. Its foreign minister said this morning that supplies were normal, adding that in May it would be transferring its next payment for Russian gas in euros for Gazprombank to then convert it into roubles.
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