Putin stopped the taps by Poles and Bulgarians, the analyst predicts: Will Russia lose gas too? – New time

Blackmail from Russia is gaining momentum. The Russians announced on Tuesday night that they were stopping natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. Both countries have called it a breach of existing treaties. The whole situation concerns the fact that countries have refused to pay for gas in rubles, as Vladimir Putin (69) wants in order to recover their economy from sanctions. Economy Minister Richard Sulík (54) says that Slovakia has nothing to worry about yet. A few weeks ago, Putin began to threaten to stop Russian gas supplies if partners did not pay in rubles. He is apparently retaliating for the EU’s sanctions against Russia, which invaded Ukraine two months ago. Poland announced that they no longer receive gas, stating that they are ready to import the required volume from other sources via gas pipelines from the Czech Republic and Lithuania. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called the suspension of Russian gas supplies a “direct attack” on the country. Poles have 80% full gas tanks, Bulgarians only 20% full, so they are more affected. Poland is already preparing to cut off oil. “We are preparing new contracts and the refineries are ready to switch to other types of oil,” they said. Sulík talks about zero tax Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger has said that Russia will not break Western unity and solidarity. “The EU must get rid of its energy dependence on the Russian Federation as soon as possible,” he wrote. Russia has warned other EU countries that they can stop their gas if they do not pay in rubles. “As payment deadlines approach and some customers refuse to pay under the new system, then, of course, the presidents’ decree will be used,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.