G7 countries reject gas payment in rubles

The fronts are hardening in the dispute over Russia’s demand that gas be paid for in rubles. The world’s seven most important industrialized countries unanimously rejected a settlement in rubles at a special conference on Monday and spoke of a breach of contract. They urged the companies not to comply, said German Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) as chairman of the G7 energy ministers. “So this means that payment in rubles is unacceptable.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed, “We have a situation where contracts have to be fulfilled.”