There are some reasonable expectations thT Russia would have in a contract. One of which being, if you paye money you can’t just freeze it such that I cannot use it. His point is completely valid whether or not you like him. Imagine giving the bank a check that couldn’t be cashed. That seems to be the situation here. Since Russia owns the commodity it seems reasonable that they would make such a decision.
“Since Russia owns the commodity it seems reasonable that they would make such a decision.”
Did Russia stipulate in the contract that payments can only be made in rubles? I doubt it, since when the contracts were negotiated and signed the ruble was not a very secure or stable instrument or medium of exchange.