Putin severs Russian gas supplies to Poland in retaliation

The move comes after Warsaw’s refusal to meet Moscow’s demand for payment in roubles

RUSSIAN gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria were cut off yesterday in an escalation of tensions between Moscow and the West.

The move represents the first time the Kremlin has cut off a country’s gas supply since the start of the invasion. It came after Warsaw refused Vladimir Putin’s demand to pay for gas in roubles.

Anna Moskwa, Poland’s climate and environment minister, confirmed it had stopped receiving supplies through the Yamal-europe pipeline, which pumps Russian gas to Poland and Germany.

Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s prime minister, said: “We have been threatened with the suspension of gas supplies by Gazprom and have taken steps to diversify supplies. We will protect Poland against this Russian measure.”

Late last night, the Bulgarian economy minister announced it had also been cut off from Russian gas supplies despite insisting it had complied with Russia’s terms.

“Bulgargaz received a notification today, April 26, that natural gas supplies from Gazprom Export will be suspended starting April 27,” said the ministry, adding: “The Bulgarian side has fully met its obligations and has made all payments required under its current contract in a timely manner, strictly and in accordance with its terms.”

Earlier yesterday, Piotr Naimski, the Polish government’s commissioner for strategic energy infrastructure, said Poland would refuse to pay Russia in roubles, and that the country was prepared for any retaliation.

“We will not pay,” he said. “Various possibilities and risks are being considered and we’re prepared for them.

“If it is necessary, and if such a decision is made, we’re able to cut ourselves off from the gas supplies at a moment’s notice, and we’re ready for Russian actions, including an interruption in supplies.”

It came as Warsaw also included

Gazprom on a new list of economic sanctions against 50 Russian businesses and oligarchs. Gazprom last night said deliveries to Poland would be halted because of the country’s refusal to pay for gas in roubles.

The Russian state-controlled gas giant said it would stop sending gas to Poland as of today.

Moscow and Europe have been locked in a stand-off over payments for gas supplies, prompting fears Mr Putin could eventually halt deliveries altogether.

The Russian president last month signed a decree demanding payments for natural gas from “unfriendly nations” in roubles.

Whereas the European Commission has recommended EU countries continue paying for Russian gas in euros to avoid breaching sanctions.

Poland procures 46 per cent of its gas supplies from Russia, according to the Forum Energii think tank, making it

‘We have taken steps to diversify supplies. We will protect Poland against this Russian measure’

one of the EU’S top purchasers of Russian energy.

But Warsaw has repeatedly called for an immediate EU embargo on the import of Russian fossil fuels in order to starve Mr Putin’s war machine of muchneeded funds.

The eastern capital has also called on the bloc to replicate its sanctions against Russian firms, including Gazprom.

Poland has vowed to stop imports of Russian oil, gas and coal by the end of the year, and has been preparing for its supply to be cut off by Moscow.

Ms Moskwa said its current gas reserves amounted to 76 per cent of its total storage capacity.

Iwona Dominiak, a spokesman for the country’s Gaz System operator, said consumers would not experience shortages as a result of their preparations.

Warsaw’s contract with Gazprom is due to expire at the end of the year.

Poland will replace its Russian supplies with gas from Norway via the new Baltic Pipe, which is expected to be operational by the end of the year.