Russian Demand for Rouble Gas Payments Would Be Breach of Contract, EU Leaders Say

A view shows pipelines at a gas processing facility, operated by Gazprom company, at Bovanenkovo gas field on the Arctic Yamal peninsula, Russia, on May 21, 2019. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

BRUSSELS—Leaders from some European Union member states said on Thursday Russia’s demand that “unfriendly” countries use roubles to buy for its oil and gas could breach supply contracts.

President Vladimir Putin’s demand on Wednesday for rouble payments sent European gas prices surging and added to concerns over supply disruptions in the EU, which gets about 40 percent of its gas from Russia.