German gas importers can open rouble accounts to pay for Russian gas -sources

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpBERLIN Reuters – Germanys gas importers are allowed to open rouble accounts to pay for Russian gas, according to two people familiar with the matter, as a deadline to switch to a new mechanism proposed by Moscow draws nearer.p

pOpening rouble accounts would not violate sanctions as long as payments would not be made in that currency, the people said.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

pThe European Unions executive told member states this week they can keep buying Russian gas without breaching sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, EU officials said earlier on Thursday.p

pThe Commission advised companies against opening a bank account in roubles at Gazprombank to do this, as requested by the Kremlin, but has not explicitly said doing so would breach sanctions in its formal written guidance to governments on the issue.p

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pp Reporting by Markus Wacket Writing by Christoph Steitz, Editing by Miranda Murrayp

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