Russia’s energy exporter Gazprom has on Wednesday, April 28, stopped gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria after they refused to pay for natural gas in Russian roubles. EU has said it was ready for the move and member states will help Poland and Bulgaria in solidarity, Polskie Radio reports.
Gazprom said on Wednesday it had halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria for failing to pay for gas in roubles. This is the Kremlin’s most significant move yet in response to international sanctions over Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Warsaw has stated that it has enough gas stored in Poland, while Bulgaria is looking for alternative supplies in the Mediterranean region and Azerbaijan.
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The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has stated that Russian energy firm Gazprom’s decision to stop delivering gas to Poland and Bulgaria was «yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail.»
As to the need to resupply the two EU members with the vital energy resource, Von der Leyen also said in her statement that EU member states «have put in place contingency plans for just such a scenario and we worked with them in coordination and solidarity», Polskie Radio reports.
Russia stops gas supplies to Poland, Bulgaria; EU launches contingency plans
