The Austrian authorities have refuted the assertions of the Russian side about the agreement to pay for gas in rubles.
"OMV (Austrian energy company - Ed.), of course, will continue to pay for gas supplies from Russia in euros," Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer tweeted on Wednesday, April 27.
Thus, he commented on the corresponding message of the Russian state agency TASS and urged “not to spread further fake Russian propaganda.” He stressed that Vienna “strictly adheres to the jointly adopted EU sanctions.”
At a government meeting, Nehammer pointed to the terms of the contract between OMV and Gazprom. In addition, during his visit to Moscow two weeks ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the possibility of continuing to pay for gas in euros, recalled the Austrian chancellor. “Nothing has changed for us,” he added.
At the same time, Vienna announced its intention to increase strategic gas reserves. Up to 6.6 billion euros will be allocated for these purposes, Karl Nehammer and Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Transport, Innovation and Technology Leonore Gewessler said. These measures should ensure that gas storage facilities are up to 80 percent full by winter.