Poland and Bulgaria say Russian state energy giant Gazprom has informed them that it will halt the delivery of natural gas supplies beginning on April 27.
Poland's state-owned energy company PGNiG said in a statement that Gazprom informed Poland of its intention on April 26.
The Bulgarian Energy Ministry said that Bulgarian state-owned supplier Bulgargaz had received a similar notification. The ministry said for the time being there will be no restrictions on gas consumption in Bulgaria, which meets over 90 percent of its gas needs with Gazprom's imports.
The ministry said that along with state gas companies it has taken steps to find alternative arrangements for the supply of natural gas.
The suspensions are the first to be announced since Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that “unfriendly” foreign buyers would have to pay Gazprom in rubles instead of dollars and euros. Putin issued the threat after Western countries imposed sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
SEE ALSO: Kremlin Warns No Rubles, No Gas, Says No Plans To Use Nuclear Weapons In UkrainePoland has refused to pay in rubles, agreeing with other EU countries that under the terms of the purchase agreement they can continue to pay in euros or dollars.
According to the Bulgarian Energy Ministry, Bulgaria has fulfilled its obligations and made all the payments required under its contract for delivery from Gazprom.
Gazprom said it had not suspended supplies to Poland but that Warsaw had to pay for gas in line with its new "order of payments," according to Reuters. It declined to comment regarding Bulgaria.
Andriy Yermak, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, described the action as the beginning of a "gas blackmail of Europe." He said Russia is trying to shatter the unity of Ukraine's allies and using energy as a weapon.
"That is why the EU needs to be united and impose an embargo on energy resources, depriving the Russians of their energy weapons," Yermak said, according to Reuters.
Polish officials said the country is ready to face any interruption of gas supply through the Yamal pipeline.
Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa said on Twitter that there would be no shortage of gas in Polish homes as a result of the Gazprom move.
"Since the first day of the war, we have declared that we are ready for full independence from Russian raw materials," she said.
"Poland has the necessary gas reserves and sources of supply to protect our security," she added.
Gas storage facilities are 76 percent full, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, adding that Poland is ready to obtain gas from other sources.
A senior executive at Gazprom was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that "Poland must pay for gas supplies according to the new payment procedure."
PGNiG said it would take steps to reinstate the flow of gas according to the Yamal pipeline contract and that any halt of supplies is a breach of that contract. It added it has the right to pursue damages over breach of contract.