The Russian gas exporter Gazprom has halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria under the Yamal contract, due to absence of payment in roubles as of 1 April 2022, as requested by Gazprom. The two countries depend on Russian gas imports for most of their gas supply: the 10.2 bcm/year contract between the Polish gas group PGNiG and Gazprom covers around 50% of Poland's gas demand, while the 3 bcm/year Russian gas imports cover around 90% of Bulgaria's gas demand. Both countries consider the proposed new payment scheme in rouble and the following suspension in supplies as a breach of contract by Gazprom.
Bulgaria, whose 10-year gas supply agreement with Gazprom expires at the end of 2022, had already announced that it would not seek to renew it. The country should receive the support of neighbouring Greece, with whom Bulgaria is interconnected; however, delays in gas pipeline construction have prevented Bulgaria to import through Greece 1 bcm/year of Azeri gas that it has contracted.