Poland “dissatisfied” by EU willingness to pay for Russian gasoline in roubles

Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has expressed “disappointment” that some EU member states are prepared to pay for Russian gasoline in roubles, amid studies that the European Fee has proposed methods to permit them to take action with out breaking sanctions.

Poland just lately noticed its Russian gasoline provides minimize off by Gazprom after it refused Moscow’s demand to pay in roubles. It has persistently pushed for a more durable EU line in opposition to Russia, together with a speedy finish to vitality imports.

Over the weekend, nevertheless, the Polish Press Company (PAP) reported, based mostly on inside sources, {that a} closed assembly occurred in Brussels on Friday at which the European Fee offered an interpretation of the best way to pay in roubles for Russian gasoline with out violating sanctions.

The report indicated that the fee’s place acquired help from, amongst others, Germany and France however was opposed by nations together with Poland and the Netherlands.

Commenting publicly on Sunday, Morawiecki mentioned that he was “dissatisfied to see that there’s consent for paying for gasoline in roubles, one thing that Putin was attempting to attain”, studies PAP.

“It’s not [just] one or two member states, however a number of or maybe much more EU nations that wish to give in and pay in roubles,” he continued. “We’re saying a agency ‘no’. Allow us to transfer away from Russian hydrocarbons as shortly as potential.”

“Sadly [in the EU] options are sometimes developed on the bottom frequent denominator,” added the Polish prime minister. “That signifies that if Germany, Hungary, Austria or the Netherlands are against one thing, we can not implement one other package deal of sanctions with out their consent.”

As many as 20 European firms have arrange particular accounts at Gazprombank to allow them to pay for gasoline below guidelines imposed by the Kremlin, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing sources at Gazprom. One other 14 firms have requested the financial institution to supply the required paperwork for this function.

Poland’s state utility PGNiG has refused to adjust to Moscow’s calls for, resulting in final month’s chopping of gasoline provides. The Polish authorities had already been planning to finish the import of Russian gasoline (in addition to oil and coal) this yr.

Nevertheless, whereas Poland has lengthy been diversifying away from Russian provides, different nations are extra reliant on Moscow to satisfy their vitality calls for.

In accordance with Dziennik Gazeta Prawna each day, EU ambassadors will meet once more this week to debate the difficulty of paying for Russian gasoline in roubles, because it continues to lift a variety of controversy. On the similar time, the EU remains to be engaged on one other sanctions package deal that would embody a ban on Russian oil.

“We’re amongst these calling for a package deal of radical sanctions as a result of we imagine that this warfare might be stopped not solely militarily, but in addition economically,” mentioned Morawiecki.

“We’re within the crucible of geopolitical change and we can not permit Russia to blackmail us all. If they are going to perceive all of this, I imagine that this will even be an important issue that may result in a faster finish to the warfare,” he added.

Important picture credit score: PGNiG press supplies