Poland to cut all Russian oil imports, Germany warns on gas supplies

Germany has said it has triggered the early warning level for gas supplies amid concerns that Russia could cut off supplies unless it is paid in roubles. Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck who is also the Energy Minister and Vice-chancellor on Wednesday said that the measure is a precautionary one as there have been several comments from the Russian side that if the payments are not paid in rubles the supplies will be stopped.  The Minister said country's gas storage is currently filled to about 25 percent capacity. Western nations have rejected the Russian demand for rouble payments, arguing it would undermine the sanctions imposed against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

Meanwhile, Poland will take steps to cut Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, the prime minister said Wednesday. Poland has already largely reduced its dependence on Russian oil, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that the country  was launching the most radical plan among European nations to wean off Russian energy sources. Poland was banning imports of Russian coal. Poland is calling on other European Union countries to cut dependence on fuel imports from Russia. Poland argues that money from oil and gas exports are fueling Russia's war machine and that that should stop. Morawiecki called on the European Commission to impose tax on all hydrocarbons imported from Russia to make trade "just."