Russia Threatens Further Action After Gas Supply To Poland And Bulgaria Cut

Shipments to Europe were halted as Moscow also warned other nations over payment

- Thomas Kingsley Joe Middleton

Russia has warned it could cut off gas supplies to other nations after turning the taps off for Nato members Poland and Bulgaria.

In a sign of further tensions between the Kremlin and the west over Ukraine, Russia threatened to target nations if they did not comply with President Putin's demands to pay for fuel in roubles.

The threat came after an announcement earlier yesterday that gas bound for Poland and Bulgaria would be halted. It led to leaders across Europe accusing Moscow of "blackmail" over gas provision.

But a defiant Kremlin warned that other countries could suffer the same fate. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied Russia was engaging in blackmail and said the nation was a reliable energy supplier. But he added: "When the payment deadlines approach, if some consumers decline to pay under the new system, then the president's decree of course will be applied."

Vladimir Putin had previously said "unfriendly" countries must pay for gas in roubles. Poland and Bulgaria are the first countries to have their gas cut off by Europe's main supplier since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in mid-February.