of a gas blackmail of europe and an attempt to divide the international community. bulgaria s energy minister says natural gas is being used by russia as a political and economic weapon. the latest move by the kremlin certainly represents an escalation in tensions between moscow and the west. president putin had previously warned that so called unfriendly countries would have pay for their fuel in roubles. europe currently gets about 40% of its gas from russia. the polish state gas company bought 53% of its gas imports from gazprom in the first quarter of this year. it has confirmed that supplies to the country have been halted. bulgaria, relies on gazprom for more than 90% of its gas supply. but the bulgarian government said it had taken steps to find alternative sources .
european countries poland and bulgaria which moscow describes as unfriendly states. both of them are nato countries and get most of their gas from russia, but they ve refused the kremlin s demand that they pay for their energy in russian roubles. the government in kyiv says president putin is trying to break the unity of its allies by using economic blackmail. our moscow correspondent, jenny hill, reports. russia s turned off the taps and state tv is enjoying the moment. gazprom announced this morning it would cut supplies to poland and bulgaria. both countries have refused to pay in roubles. not that the polish prime minister was concerned.
to come forward if they had things that could be they wish to say about tim westwood and his time at the bbc but to emphasise tim westwood strenuously denies all allegations that have been made against him. thank you. russia has been accused of escalating the war in ukraine by cutting off gas supplies to two european countries poland and bulgaria which moscow describes as unfriendly states. both of them are nato countries and get much of their gas from russia , but they ve refused the kremlin s demand that they pay for their energy in russian roubles. the government in kyiv says president putin is trying to break the unity of its allies by using economic blackmail. from moscow, our correspondent, jenny hill, sent this report. russia s turned off the taps and state tv is enjoying the moment. gazprom announced this morning it would cut supplies to poland and bulgaria. both countries have refused to pay in roubles.
european countries poland and bulgaria which moscow describes as unfriendly states. both of them are nato countries and get much of their gas from russia, but they ve refused the kremlin s demand that they pay for their energy in russian roubles. the government in kyiv says president putin is trying to break the unity of its allies by using economic blackmail. from moscow, our correspondent, jenny hill, sent this report. russia s turned off the taps and state tv is enjoying the moment. gazprom announced this morning it would cut supplies to poland and bulgaria. both countries have refused to pay in roubles. not that the polish prime minister was concerned. his country, he said, was ready to cut itself off from russian energy. translation: our gas storages are 7696 full. | this is a high level. much higher than in most
"Energy supplies to the West will fall," Putin said at a cabinet meeting. Instead, "the fast-growing markets in the South and East are being served step by step". Russia must continue in the direction taken years ago. Against the background of the European boycott discussions, the Kremlin chief also warned: "The consequences of such a| USSA News