Economy of Russia

The Russian ruble reached a two-year high against the dollar and the euro today, mostly due to strict capital controls in the country and despite the announced next package of EU sanctions, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.

In morning trading, the ruble rose 0.7 percent against the dollar to 68.62 rubles, its strongest position since June 2020.

"None of the Bulgarian employers want Gazprom and payment in rubles. But everyone wants gas at reasonable prices so that we can remain competitive." This was said by the Minister of Innovation and Growth Daniel Lorer on Nova TV.

"Forever" - this is how Deputy Prime Minister Asen Vassilev answered the question of how long Bulgaria can last with the use of alternatives to Russian gas.

Greece plans to pay Russia's gas supplier Gazprom next month in a way that will not violate European Union sanctions against Russia. This was stated by the Minister of Energy Kostas Skrekas.

The ruble will be introduced in the Russian-controlled Kherson region of Ukraine on May 1, a spokesman for the region's pro-Russian military-civil administration said.

"At this stage, Russian gas supplies to Bulgaria have not been interrupted so far," Vladimir Malinov, executive director of the Bulgarian gas network operator Bulgartransgaz, told Reuters.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Energy announced that Gazprom had informed the Bulgarian state gas company Bulgargaz that it would suspend gas supplies from Wednesday.

Gas supplies to Poland from Russia have been restored. This is shown by data from the network of gas transmission operators of the European Union on Wednesday, quoted by Reuters.

US President Joe Biden has signed two bills banning oil imports and halting trade with Russia. The purpose of the documents is to impose sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Bulgaria has received an official letter from Gazprom demanding that the payment for Russian gas be in rubles. This was confirmed to Nova TV by Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov.

Our country agrees with the common position of the European Union that it will not comply with the change of currency.

The European Union will launch a total economic war against Russia. This was stated by the Minister of Finance of France Bruno Le Maire in an interview with France Info radio.

"We will launch a total economic and financial war against Russia," the minister said. "The Russian people will bear the consequences."