
Slovakia is the first European Union member state to face Russian pressure to pay for ruble gas.
Slovak Economy Minister Richard Sulik said his country was ready to pay for Russian gas in rubles if it were necessary to avoid cutting off gas supply.
Sulik said that during an interview on national television. "If there is a condition to make the payment in rubles, then we pay in rubles," he said.
The minister stressed that Russian imports make up about 85 percent of all gas supplies to Slovakia and therefore the country's authorities will take a pragmatic stance in this direction.
Sulik urged the rest of Europe to find a common solution. "We can't give up gas,"" he stressed.
In a line with several other European politicians, even the Slovak Economy Minister said suppliers should diversify, but for this it can take years, while they have only two months to solve the current problem of fuel purchases.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new decree introducing the ruble gas payment mechanism.