Russia and Belarus define gas payment in rubles

The Russian Energy Ministry reported that together with its Belarusian counterpart they amended the gas supply agreement that defines the prices of the fuel until the end of the year and establishes payments in rubles.

“The documents stipulate the transition to gas payments in rubles and determine the conditions for the formation of gas prices from April until the end of 2022,” the agency said on its Telegram account.

For his part, Energy Minister Nikolai Shulguinov stressed the steady development and high potential of bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Minsk in all spheres of the energy sector.

“The gas industry, of course, remains the flagship of our cooperation. The Russian side continues to fully implement its commitments in the field of energy resources supply and implements relevant programs to form unified markets,” he emphasized. Armenia also began paying for Russian gas in rubles since last month, Armenian Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian said on April 15.

Speaking to RBC news agency, Russian Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov confirmed that Moscow’s new measure allows Armenia to pay for the multi-year contract in rubles, an “opportunity” that the country “is taking advantage of”.

On March 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a decree defining a new mandatory procedure for paying for Russian gas supplies in rubles by buyers from countries described as “unfriendly” by Moscow, but other nations interested in the deal can also do so.