The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has been going on for two months and continues for a third month. In this context, Russia has cut off natural gas supplies to NATO member states Poland and Bulgaria.
The United States and European countries have imposed sanctions on Russia in protest of Russia’s military action in Ukraine. In retaliation for the move, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that all Western trade with Russia would now be limited to the Russian currency (ruble). In this situation, the Russian state energy company Gazprom has stopped sending natural gas to NATO member states Poland and Bulgaria.
Explaining this, Gosprom said yesterday that the decision was taken because both Poland and Bulgaria refused to pay for their trade with Russia in rubles. Speaking in the Polish parliament yesterday on Gosprom’s move, the Polish prime minister said, “The facts behind Russia’s action are Poland’s support for Ukraine and economic action against Moscow.” In addition, the European Union has termed Casprom’s act as “Russia’s blackmail”.
It is noteworthy that the news came as trade with Russia warned that it would no longer cut off natural gas shipments to other countries that did not agree to pay in rubles.