Putin allowed to pay for gas supplies not only through Gazprombank until April

Russian President Vladimir Putin has allowed foreign buyers of Russian gas to pay in rubles not only through Gazprombank but also through other Russian banks until April 1. This is evidenced by a presidential decree posted on the official portal for the publication of legal acts on December 19.

"Until April 1, 2025, the obligation to pay a foreign buyer for the supply of natural gas is considered to be duly fulfilled in the case of crediting funds in rubles to the ruble account opened by the Russian supplier in a Russian credit organization," the document says.

It is specified that the decree comes into force from the date of its publication.

Next suspension: gas in Europe could double in price in winter

Why the fuel market is feverish and whether Europe will be able to do without Russian supplies

Earlier, on December 5, Putin updated the procedure for payments by foreign buyers for Russian gas supplies. The signed decree authorized the resumption of supplies to foreign buyers who have repaid the debt by crediting the account in rubles. At the same time, the decree appointed Gazprombank as an authorized bank to open special accounts for such deliveries.

The day before, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said he had asked the United States to make an exception to the sanctions against Gazprombank for payments for gas from Russia. He discussed such a possibility with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Brussels.

Gazprombank was added to the U.S. sanctions list in November. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said afterward that Russia was working on retaliatory measures. He called completely blocking measures against Russia impossible and promised that a solution would be found soon.