Today Is Russia's Deadline For Ruble Gas Payments - Russia Will No Longer Accept Dollars & Euros - Will Shut Off Exports

"In a situation where the financial system of the Western countries is used as a weapon, when companies from these countries refuse to fulfill contracts with Russian banks, enterprises, individuals, when assets in dollars and euros are frozen, it makes no sense to use the currencies of these countries." -Putin

"Today I signed a decree that establishes the rules for trading Russian natural gas with the so-called unfriendly states.

We offer counter-parties from such countries a clear and transparent scheme. In order to purchase Russian natural gas, they must open ruble accounts in Russian banks. It is these accounts that will be used to pay for gas supplies starting tomorrow, April 1st of this year. If these payments are not made, we will consider it a failure of the buyer to fulfill its obligations, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free and we are not going to do charity either, it means that existing contracts will be stopped. I'd like to emphasize again. In a situation where the financial system of the Western countries is used as a weapon, when companies from these countries refuse to fulfill contracts with Russian banks, enterprises, individuals, when assets in dollars and euros are frozen, it makes no sense to use the currencies of these countries."