Prague [Czech Republic], May 3 (ANI/Sputnik): Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela told reporters following a Brussels meeting of EU energy ministers that the Czech Republic does not intend to pay for Russian gas in rubles.

“The Czech Republic wants to pay for gas in euros in the future, especially as we buy the majority of it on Western European exchanges. The energy business CEZ is the only Czech company that buys gas directly from the Russian Federation, and it pays and will continue to pay in euros “Sikela said.
He also stated that the country is willing to quit buying oil from Russia by the end of 2022 if certain criteria are met.

On March 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that natural gas payments for EU countries and other countries that imposed sanctions against Russia would be transferred into rubles, eliminating the use of dollars, euros, and a variety of other currencies in settlements.

The president then signed a directive declaring that failing to pay in rubles by unfriendly countries from April 1 would be considered non-fulfillment of gas contract duties. (ANI/Sputnik)