Putin told Europe: Pay on the ruble or we will cut your gas
Russian President Vladimir Putin demands foreign buyers pay Russian gas in a ruble from Friday or has their supply cut, the capital movement that is rejected and where Germany said it was as big as "extortion".
Putin's decision on Thursday made Europe face the prospect of losing more than a third of the gas supply. Germany, the most dependent on Russia, has activated an emergency plan that can cause allotment in the European largest economy.
Energy exports are the strongest Pupin lever when he tried to again against Western sanctions forced on Russian banks, companies, employers and Kremlin colleagues in response to Russian invasion to Ukraine. Moscow called his Ukrainian action as a "special military operation".
Putin said the Russian gas buyer "must open a ruble account at Russian banks....