The EU country Hungary is willing to pay for gas supplies from Russia in rubles. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told press representatives in Budapest on Wednesday. “We have no problem with that,” he said. “If the Russians ask for rubles, we pay in rubles.”
Hungary has long-term gas supply contracts with Russia. The next installment will be paid in May. The exact terms of these agreements are unknown. As Orban explained, not only the price is important, but above all the security of supply in the long term. Orban had built up a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years.
Putin last week demanded that Western countries pay for the energy supplies they get from Russia in rubles instead of US dollars or euros. The G7 countries, including Germany, had categorically rejected this.
However, gas supplies would remain fully guaranteed, the Kremlin chief assured the government in a video conference broadcast on state television. A payment for Russian goods in foreign currency has lost its usefulness, Putin justified his demand.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
