Russian energy giant Gazprom has told Poland’s PGNiG it will end gas supplies from Wednesday amid the ongoing tensions over the invasion of Ukraine. The move was reported by the Polish state-controlled oil and gas company on Tuesday.

The halting of gas flows to Poland is a good way of threatening the West over the refusal to Vladimir Putin’s new demand to pay in rubles.

Poland has been particularly vocal in its criticism of Russia over the war. The country’s main gas supplier PGNiG said it has been informed that all flows will stop from Wednesday. The move came after Russian gas giant Gazprom issued a warning that Poland must pay up for its gas supplies in the Russian currency.

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“I can confirm we’ve received such threats from Gazprom which are linked among other things to the means of payment,” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters in Berlin. “Poland is sticking to the arrangements and maybe Russia will try to punish Poland” by cutting deliveries.

European gas prices spiked as much as 17% as traders calculated the risk of other European countries being hit next. Europe is hugely dependent on Russian gas.

“The possible cut may set a precedent for additional curtailments following Russia’s request for payment in rubles,” Patricio Alvarez, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence said.

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After the move, Poland has been preparing for life without Russian gas, and the government said on Tuesday it has enough fuel in storage. PGNiG said it’s prepared to obtain gas from various directions. It also said its underground gas storage is almost 80% full. 

“The balance sheet is supplemented by domestic gas production and fuel reserves accumulated in underground gas storage facilities. Currently, the warehouse filling level is around 80% and is significantly higher than in the corresponding period in previous years,” it added.  

Warsaw has been calling for tougher sanctions on Russia.

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Poland’s Climate Minister Anna Moskwa confirmed that there will be no shortage of gas in Poland despite Russia’s halt of exports.  

“Poland has the necessary gas reserves and sources of supply that protect our security – we have been effectively independent of Russia for years,” she said in a tweet.  

“There will be no shortage of gas in Polish homes,” the minister wrote.