Hungary's authoritarian leader breaks with the EU, saying he'll pay for Russian gas in rubles

The prime minister of Hungary said that he would pay for Russian gas in rubles, breaking with the European Union.

We don't have a problem paying in rubles. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbenberg told reporters on Wednesday that if the Russians asked them to, they would pay in rubles.

Russia will stop sending gas to Europe if countries don't pay in rubles.

If unfriendly countries don't pay in rubles by April 1, we will consider this a default on gas contracts, Putin said after signing a decree on Thursday.

The US, UK, and EU countries are on the list of unfriendly countries that Russia designated in response to widespread condemnation of its six-week invasion of Ukraine.

Hungary is a member of the EU and Orb is an ally of Putin. In his victory speech after being re-elected to a fourth term, the Hungarian leader referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as one of his opponents.

Other European leaders have rejected Putin's demands.

Germany, Europe's largest economy, has already activated an emergency plan to deal with disruptions to its natural-gas supply.

There is a developing story. You can check back for updates.