The Russian government’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that countries buying gas from Russia would have to pay in Rubles.

The Kremlin spokesman said: “Payments can only be made in Rubles… Companies need to understand the changing market conditions and the different situation that has arisen due to the economic war being waged against Russia.”

Peskov stressed once again that “there is no free gas” and noted that by switching to payment in rubles, in fact, the situation does not change.

“Russia has always been, remains, and will remain a reliable supplier of hydrocarbons,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

On Monday, Vladimir Putin instructed Russia’s Cabinet of Ministers, the Central Bank, and Gazprom to take action by March 31 to change the payment currency for gas supplies to unfriendly countries (Greece is among them).

Commenting on Roman Abramovich’s intervention in the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, Peskov pointed out that the Russian businessman is not an official member of the delegation in talks with Ukraine. “Abramovich is involved in some contacts between the Russian and Ukrainian sides and is not an official member of the delegation,” confirming that Roman Abramovich was present on the Russian side in the talks in Istanbul.