The Russian group Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it had suspended all its gas deliveries to Bulgaria and Poland, assuring that these two member countries of the European Union had not made any payment in rubles.
In a statement, Gazprom said it had notified the Bulgarian company Bulgargaz and the Polish PGNiG of the “suspension of gas deliveries from April 27 and until payment is made” in rubles.
PGNiG confirmed Wednesday “the complete cessation of the supply of natural gas provided by Gazprom under the Yamal contract”.
“The situation does not affect routine supplies for PGNiG customers who are receiving fuel as requested,” the company said in a statement.
According to PGNiG, the supply stoppage “is a breach of the Yamal contract” and the company reserves “the right to seek repairs”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that Russia would only accept payment for gas deliveries in its national currency, in reaction to sanctions imposed to punish the Kremlin offensive in Ukraine.
Gazprom said it did not receive payment for gas deliveries in April from Bulgargaz and PGNiG by the end of Tuesday afternoon.
“Bulgaria and Poland are transit countries. In the event of unauthorized withdrawal of Russian gas from quantities in transit to third countries, transit deliveries will be reduced in the same quantity” withdrawn, the Russian giant warned.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, claimed that Gazprom had made the “right decision” by suspending deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria.
“We must also act in this way concerning other unfriendly countries” towards Russia, said Mr. Volodin, in a message on his Telegram account.
Poland and Bulgaria, very dependent on Russian gas, both announced on Tuesday evening that they had been informed of the suspension of deliveries by Gazprom.
These two members of NATO and the EU, however, say they are prepared to obtain the missing gas from other sources.
Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa has assured that there will be no shortage of gas in Poland, saying that Warsaw is ready for “complete independence from Russian raw materials”.
The Bulgarian government asserted that Sofia had “fully discharged” its obligations and had “made all payments required under the contract in due time”, assuring that “actions to find alternative arrangements for the supply of natural gas and deal with the situation” were undertaken.
On Wednesday, the Bulgarian Prime Minister denounced “unacceptable blackmail”.