Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, from tomorrow, countries buying gas from Russia must pay in roubles or their contracts will not be honoured.

In a televised statement on Thursday, Mr Putin said he had signed a decree to that effect, adding that the switch to roubles was designed to “strengthen our sovereignty”.

He said: “In order to purchase Russian natural gas, they must open rouble accounts in Russian banks.

“It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow.

“If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences.

“Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either – that is, existing contracts will be stopped.”

Exisiting contracts will be honoured, however, provided customers follow the new rules, he added.

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The new restrictions are likely to be of concern to Germany and Poland, especially, as large buyers of Russian gas supplies.

But Germany’s Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, said Western allies are determined to not be “blackmailed” by Moscow, calling the move an attempt to divide Western allies over energy supplies, which “has failed”.

Bruno Le Maire, France’s Finance Minister, said the two countries rejected Mr Putin’s demands.

Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said on Wednesday, Warsaw will end all imports of Russian energy by the end of the year.

Mr Putin is believed to have been surprised at the strength and breadth of western sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.

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