Head of the finance committee in Russia’s lower house of parliament, Anatoly Aksakov says foreign consumers of Russian natural gas should simply acquire roubles to pay at the Moscow Exchange and no change in the law is required.
Putin’s order last week has boosted the currency after it fell to all-time lows when the West imposed sweeping sanctions against Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine, which also sent European gas prices higher.
Aksakov says they can buy it on forex, wherever also they can buy the roubles wherever.
The Russian central bank, the government and Kremlin-controlled energy company Gazprom, which accounts for 40% of European gas imports, have been asked to present their proposals for rouble gas payments to Putin by March 31.