The Hungarian energy company MVM is discussing with Gazprom the transfer of payments for gas in rubles. Earlier, Prime Minister Orban said that the rejection of Russian energy sources would be catastrophic for Hungary.
Photo: Roman Pimenov / TASS
The Hungarian energy company MVM and Gazprom are negotiating the transfer of payments for gas in rubles, said in an interview “RIA News” Russian Ambassador to Hungary Yevgeny Stanislavov.
“Between the state energy company MVM, which just concluded … a long-term contract with Gazprom Export, these issues (about settlements in rubles. – RBC) are being discussed,” the ambassador said.
On March 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to convert gas payments for “unfriendly countries” into rubles into rubles. Hungary, as an EU member state, was on this list. On March 31, Putin signed a corresponding decree. The new sale rules came into effect on April 1, and existing contracts were suspended.
Why Russia decided to transfer payments for gas into rubles
Many countries have announced that they will not switch to paying for gas in rubles. Thus, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Berlin will continue to pay in euros, as stipulated in the contracts. Alfred Stern, director of the Austrian OMV, one of Gazprom’s main partners in Europe, said the same thing. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, noted that the EU would not allow Russia to circumvent sanctions in this way and would no longer allow Moscow to “blackmail [Европу] energy carriers”.
At the same time, European leaders recognize that Russian gas and oil cover a significant part of their energy needs. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban pointed out that if Budapest refuses energy from Russia, “then it will not only get colder in Hungary, but the whole country will be paralyzed.” He pointed out that the country buys 64% of oil and 85% of gas from Russia.