Germany Says Russia's Ruble Demands Are 'Blackmail'

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner says companies must resist Russia's demands for gas payments to be made in rubles. Lindner says Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to "blackmail" companies. Linder spoke to Bloomberg's Maria Tadeo at the Global Solutions Summit.

[MrPeopleFUN]

When you confiscated property of russians and other russian wealth on your territory you didn't look at the agreements and treaties. You just did it as a crook.

[JA-pnji]

You seize $300 billion of his reserves, then you tell him that you're going to pay him in euros that he can't spend: As no European bank - including the ECB, would honour any Russian transaction, and you scream blackmail because he tells you he wants rubles for his gas.

[seanlee]

This is completely self-inflicted. Russia CAN'T buy anything with euros in europe anymore so euros are effectively worthless to Russia, thus they're going to do the only logical thing they can do which is to trade in a currency they can use aka roubles. This guy have the audacity to talk about treaties and contracts while seizing Russian assets and accounts violating all kinds of contracts....and that's not even mentioning the Minsk agreement

[lewisrashe]

Germany crying about needing to pay in Rubles. You do realize that by freezing the USD and Euro accounts you basically made payment in those currencies from the Russian standpoint worthless. Why would Russia accept them as payment for anything.

[annoyedcat]

The EU and US unilaterally sanctioned Russia and bans them from the SWIFT system. Why would Russia use euro or dollar when they can't use their currencies for the international trade?.

[ericbryant]

He should’ve said “The criminal liberal democracies of the world.”

[widuth]

After sanctions and canceling of nord stream 2. Asking to pay with rubles is blackmail 😂😂😂 hypocrisy at its highest 😂 yes very different Germany after Angela mercel Germany has become stupid 😂

[scar]

He's confident, but what he's forgetting that he is not the one going to be suffering once gas gets shut off. When an average citizen of EU is going to suffer, who do you think they will blame next after Putin?
Good luck buddy.

[potak]

the US said Russia cant use dollar and now they cant even use their own currency ?
germany is being butthurt here

[Activstroy]

If you blocked Russian bank accounts in dollars, what's sense to reveal delivery gas for dollars? Russians will sale gas for rubles or stop supplying. Great American plan to sale American gas with doble price.

[wahomeadvocate]

EU: sanctions starts immediately
Putin: pay gas with rubles then.
EU: we need time to look for other sources of gas.
How selfish can the EU be.

[joshuasena]

Russian need to stop the gas if Europe doesn’t comply with paying in rubles.

[AKrn]

If demanding payment in their currency is blackmail, what is cutting them off from the banking system and stealing citizen's assets called?

[brahmaped]

What about sanctions, its also a form of blackmail imposed upon civilians, I think Russia is just returning the favor....

[jmsgrdner]

It's Russia's gas to sell. This is like watching a teenager throw a fit because their allowance runs out.

[nessuno]

Germany puts sanctions and talks of black mail in return?

[mauretteeric]

This guy: I am outraged that you won’t accept to deliver your gas for free (since the EU and US will freeze all payments in dollars or euros). The nerve of this guy is incredible

[muddassirghoorun]

Nobody will accept a a payment that is just paper that cannot be used. Time to find a solution to this.

[DarkHill]

Soooo its ok for YOU to sanction and you expect them to follow the contracts?? You for real??

[cimonkien]

I am nervous by hearing him talking about refuse to pay in ruble.