European leaders condemned Russia’s move to cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria as “blackmail”, while prices shot up on Wednesday following the announcement.
The supply was suspended after energy companies Bulgargaz and PGNiG did not comply with a statement issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, which stipulated that all payments for gas were to be made in roubles in a bid to strengthen the Russian currency.
Russian state energy giant Gazprom issued a statement claiming it had “completely suspended gas supplies” to Bulgaria and Poland “due to absence of payments in roubles”.
