Russia Demands Ruble Payments for Gas Supply from "Unfriendly" Countries, Escalating Weaponization of Energy Supply

In April 2022, as a countermeasure against Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow announced a decree requiring natural gas buyers from "unfriendly" countries (including EU members) to settle payments in Rubles. Following the decree's activation, Russia cut off gas supplies to countries like Poland and Bulgaria that refused the new mechanism, marking a further escalation of Russia's use of its energy supply as a geopolitical weapon.

The move was aimed at propping up the Ruble's exchange rate, which had plunged due to sanctions, and attempting to circumvent limitations in the Western payment system. For conservatives, Russia's use of its energy dominance to disrupt the international trade and monetary system confirmed that Western dependence on Russian energy was a major national security blunder, underscoring the importance of accelerating energy independence in the U.S. and Europe.