Putin extends deadline for mandatory ruble gas payments to April 1, 2027

Energy and money have always been closely linked, but today this connection is becoming a tool of geopolitics. The shift to settlements in national currencies is not just a technical change but a step towards a new architecture of world trade, where sovereignty and economic security come to the fore.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday extending the deadline for the mandatory ruble settlement mechanism for natural gas trade from the originally scheduled October 1, 2026 to April 1, 2027. Under the ruble settlement rule, foreign buyers are required to deposit rubles into the Russian bank accounts of Russian suppliers in order to complete payment.

As reported by CCTV+, the extension of the mechanism reflects Russia's desire to maintain control over currency flows in the energy sector and continue its course towards de-dollarisation of trade. The decision may affect supply terms for European and other foreign buyers, who are forced to adapt to the new rules.