Japan to ask firms not to pay for Russian gas in roubles

Japanese companies will be asked to refuse Russia’s demand that energy payments be made in roubles, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Tuesday.

Russia demanded last week that “unfriendly” countries must pay in roubles, not euros, for its gas in the wake of the United States and European allies teaming up on a series of sanctions aimed at Russia.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki last week told a parliamentary session the government did not understand Moscow’s intentions or “how they would do this”.

Japan has imposed a raft of punitive measures on Russia. Tokyo has also targeted Russia’s central bank, restricted the country’s access to the SWIFT international payments system, revoked Russia’s most-favoured-nation trade status, and banned exports of Russia-bound oil refinery equipment.

Major Japanese brands including Toyota, Honda, Nintendo and Sony have halted exports to Russia, citing concerns about logistics, supply chains, and safety.