As per a report by Russian daily Kommersant, Russian energy giant Gazprom is weighing options to halt gas supplies to “unfriendly” countries and is evaluating possible consequences.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, Moscow will soon require “unfriendly” countries to pay for fuel in roubles, raising prospect of a potential gas supply crunch in Europe.

Putin had earlier ordered the Russian central bank and Gazprom to prepare a payment scheme by March 31.

Countries in the European Union, where Russian gas through Gazprom accounts for around 40% of LNG supplies, have refused to pay for the gas in Rubles.

“Gazprom … is indeed working on an option of a complete stoppage of gas supplies to ‘unfriendly countries’ and is evaluating the consequences of such measures,” states the report.

Last week on Wednesday, Germany, Russia’s largest gas client, had said, Berlin will continue to pay in euros or dollars, and that Putin had told the German chancellor that nothing would change for European partners, despite his plan for Ruble payments.

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