The EU warns natural-gas companies not to pay Russia in rubles after the country cut supplies to Poland and Bulgaria

The EU told natural-gas companies not to pay Russia in rubles.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a Wednesday press conference that paying in rubles is a violation of sanctions.

Von der Leyen commented after Russian gas giant Gazprom shut off natural-gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. Russia had demanded that the two countries pay it in rubles, but they had rejected it.

Europe is dependent on Russian gas for 40% of its supplies, and the halt in Russian gas to the two EU countries sent a chill through the region.

It comes as no surprise that the Kremlin uses fossil fuels to try to blackmail us, according to a press statement by von der Leyen.

Four European natural-gas buyers have already paid Russia, according to a person close to Gazprom. The four European buyers paid in the Russian currency.

According to people familiar with the matter, Italian energy giant Eni is taking precautionary measures as it prepares to set up ruble accounts at a Russian bank. Insider did not get a response from the company.