President Vladimir Putin has removed the requirement for foreign buyers to exclusively use Gazprombank for paying for Russian natural gas. This decision aims to address concerns over US sanctions on the bank.
As a result, buyers, including those from the European Union, now have the option to use alternative banking options for their transactions. This move is expected to make gas payments easier and potentially stabilize gas supply to Europe.
Following this announcement, European benchmark gas prices decreased by up to 2.3%, reflecting the market's response to the relaxation of payment restrictions.