260 14:26 Times On May 2, 2022 Source: CCTV
On May 1 Local Time, One Month Has Passed Since Russia's Decree Requiring Customers From "unfriendly" Countries And Regions To Buy Natural Gas In Rubles Came Into Force. According To The Report Of Finnish Media Quoted By Russian Satellite News Agency, Finland Is Ready To Stop Importing Natural Gas From Russia From May. According To The Finnish Media Helsinki Daily, Finland And Most Parts Of Europe May Cut Off The Supply Of Natural Gas From Russia On May 21.
Earlier, Gazprom Had Asked The Finnish State-owned Gas Company To Respond To The "ruble Settlement Order" Before May 20.
Finnish Officials Said That Without Russian Gas, Finland Would Need To Find Alternative Sources, Such As Obtaining Natural Gas From Norway Through The "Baltic Connector" Gas Pipeline, Or Reducing Industrial Production. Finland's Dependence On Russian Natural Gas Is As High As More Than 90%, With Chemical And Timber Enterprises Using The Most.
Russian President Vladimir Putin Previously Announced That Since April 1, EU Member States And Other Countries Taking Sanctions Against Russia Will Be Required To Use Rubles To Settle Natural Gas. If The Payment Is Not Made In Rubles, It Will Be Regarded As A Breach Of Contract By The Russian Side, And The Russian Supplier Will Stop Supplying Natural Gas. According To The Report Of "Russia Today" On April 27, Finland Has Rejected The Russian Ruble Settlement Request.