Leaders of the world’s seven richest nations have rejected Moscow’s demand to pay for energy imports from Russia in roubles, according to Germany’s energy minister.
The G7 nations are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, US and Canada.
Robert Habeck told reporters it was a “clear breach of the existing contracts”.
Habeck said that “payment in rouble is not acceptable and we will urge the companies affected not to follow Putin’s demand”.
The Russian president announced last week that Russia wanted “unfriendly” countries pay for natural gas only in Russian currency from now on.
Economists said the move appeared designed to try to support the rouble.
It has collapsed against other currencies since Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24.and Western countries responded with far-reaching sanctions against Moscow.
