Putin orders Gazprom to rewrite contracts for rubles

MOSCOW, Mar 23 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered on Wednesday to charge the unfriendly states rubles for gas and ordered the government to send directions to Gazprom.

"As you know, illegitimate decisions of a so-called freeze of Russian assets were made over the last few weeks by several Western countries. This collective West has put an end reliability of their currencies in fact, we have talked about this already as well," Putin said.

"It makes no sense to us to sell our goods to the E.U. and the U.S. and receive payments in dollars, euros and other currencies. This is why I have decided to take steps to change payments as soon as possible – we shall begin with natural gas – billing for natural gas sold to the so-called unfriendly states for Russian rubles. This means rejection of all compromised currencies in such transactions."  

Russia will continue selling gas in the volumes and at prices stipulated by the contracts, Putin said.

End %%mk/jst%%