Peskov: Russia won’t engage in charity to supply free gas to Europe

Moscow is working on the details of delivering gas to unfriendly countries for rubles, but if Europe refuses to pay in the Russian currency, Russia will not engage in charity work, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

Report informs citing TASS that earlier, President Vladimir Putin instructed to report on measures to this end by March 31.

"The supply process is very, very complicated, it's not about purchase of some product in a store - you buy and pay at the cash register. These are deliveries, payment and balancing; these are processes that stretch over time. Now all the modalities are being worked out," the Kremlin spokesman said in response to the question of what exactly should be done within this period.

Peskov did not divulge into details about measures Russia could take if Europe refuses to pay for gas in rubles, suggesting that "issues will be tackled as they emerge".

"But the fact that we will not supply gas for free is unequivocal. This can be said with absolute certainty. In our situation, it is hardly possible and hardly expedient to engage in Pan-European charity," he concluded.