Germany activates ‘early warning’ gas plan amid tensions with Russia

BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Wednesday activated its “early warning” gas supply plan amid growing tensions with Russia.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck told a news conference in Berlin that the country should prepare for potential gas supply disruption in the coming days as Russia is saying it will only accept payments in rubles for gas deliveries.

“In order to make preparations for this situation, I’ve activated this morning the early warning level according to the gas regulation,” he said, referring to the first of three stages in Germany’s emergency preparedness plan.

He said a crisis team has been set up to closely monitor the situation on a daily basis and report to the authorities.

Habeck reiterated that German energy companies will not pay for Russian gas in rubles as their contracts stipulate payment in dollars and euros.

In response to Western sanctions on Russia, Moscow had announced earlier that it will only accept payments in rubles from “unfriendly countries” for its gas deliveries. Russian authorities are expected to announce new rules for gas payments on Thursday.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international outrage, with the EU, US, and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,179 civilians have been killed and 1,860 have been injured in Ukraine, with the true figure likely to be much higher, according to the UN.

More than 4 million Ukrainians have also fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.