Germany will continue to pay for Russian gas in euros or dollars, a government spokesman said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin had told the German Chancellor that nothing would change for European partners despite his plan for rouble payments, SİA reports citing Reuters.
Russia has said that because of Western financial sanctions over Ukraine, it plans to require payment for its energy exports - especially the gas that Germany depends on - in roubles rather than the usual euros or dollars.
In a phone call between the leaders, Putin told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that nothing would change for European partners and payments would be made in euros and transferred to Gazprom bank, which would convert the money into roubles, said the German spokesperson.
"Scholz did not agree to this procedure in the conversation, but asked for written information to better understand the procedure," said the spokesperson.
He added that a Group of Seven agreement, stating that energy supplies from Russia would be paid for only in euros or U.S. dollars, remained.
Germany has triggered an emergency plan to manage gas supplies that could see Europe's biggest economy ration power if the standoff over Russia's demand to pay for fuel with roubles disrupts supplies.
Earlier, the Kremlin said Putin and Scholz had agreed that experts from their countries would discuss how payment for Russian gas exports could be made in roubles, the TASS news agency reported.
Putin also outlined to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi a system for paying for Russian gas in roubles during a phone call between the two leaders, Draghi's office said.
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