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Germany claims Russia ready to convert gas payments into rubles through Gazprombank

Earlier, President Putin instructed to transfer payments for gas supplies to unfriendly countries into ruble

BERLIN, March 30. /TASS/. Russia agrees to accept payments for gas from European partners in euros through Gazprombank, which will convert them into rubles, spokesperson for the German government Steffen Hebestreit said following telephone conversations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

According to him, the Russian leader said that "payments will continue to be sent exclusively in euros and, as usual, transferred to Gazprombank, which is not under sanctions, then the bank will convert the sum into rubles". According to the German side, "Scholz did not agree to this procedure during the conversation, but only requested written information in order to better understand the procedure". "The G7 agreement remains in force: energy supplies are paid exclusively in euros or dollars. As indicated in the contracts," the statement said.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that the payment in rubles itself will be accepted not right away starting March 31, he noted. "The payment and supplies are a lengthy process. This does not mean that all that will be supplied tomorrow should be paid for (in rubles) by the evening," the spokesman explained.

Earlier, President Putin instructed to transfer payments for gas supplies to unfriendly countries into rubles. He said Moscow would refuse to accept payment for such contracts in compromised currencies, including dollars and euros, and ordered the government to instruct Gazprom to make the necessary changes to existing contracts.

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