Four European customers pay up in roubles: press

Four European gas customers have paid roubles to Gazprom for gas imports, and the Russian giant is not expected to suspend deliveries to any more customers until next month, Reuters reported on April 27.

More customers appear to be preparing to agree to Gazprom's demand. Reuters says ten European companies have now opened accounts with state-owned Gazprombank, a move that will enable them to deposit roubles and pay in line with Moscow's policy.

Germany's finance minister Christian Lindner said Russia is unlikely to halt gas exports to his country, the leading European buyer of Russian gas. Gas deliveries from Gazprom to Poland and Bulgaria were stopped earlier today, but sales to all other countries appear to be running normally.