Russian media reports say State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin proposed expanding the list of goods that Russia would supply abroad only for rubles, if it would be beneficial for Moscow.
According to him, the European countries have all the market opportunities to pay in rubles.
“Gas is produced in difficult natural climatic conditions. This is the hardest job. If you want to receive gas, look for rubles. It should not be otherwise,” Volodin writes in his Telegram Channel on March 30.
According to Volodin, this practice can be extended to fertilizers, grain, oil, oil, coal, metals, timber and other categories of goods.
He is sure that Western countries have every opportunity to pay in rubles.
“The situation is much worse when there is money, but there is no goods. Cooperation should be mutually beneficial,” the speaker of the State Duma said.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has rejected the demand of Russian President Vladimir Putin about the payment of Russian gas in rubles.
On March 29, European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said that the stance of the EU regarding the payment of Russian gas in rubles is “same as that of the G7.”
Speaking about the meeting of G7 energy ministers where the representative of the European Commission participated, Eric Mamer informed that the participants during the discussion "rejected the demand" of the Russian side to make the payment for gas deliveries in rubles, as per the Interfax report. The spokesperson informed that the payment for deliveries of Russian oil must be made in dollars or euros. The Group of Seven major economies on Monday, March 28, refused to agree to Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand to pay for the supply of Russian natural gas in rubles, according to the Associated Press (AP).
