EU drafts plan for buying fuel from Russia without breach of sanctions

European companies have been scrambling for weeks to figure out how they can meet Moscow's demand and keep the crucial gas flowing without violating sanctions on Russia's central bank

The European Union is set to offer its gas importers a solution to avoid a breach of sanctions when buying fuel from Russia and still effectively satisfy President Vladimir Putin’s demands over payment in rubles.

In new guidance on gas payments, the European Commission plans to say that companies should make a clear statement that they consider their obligations fulfilled once they pay in euros or dollars, in line with existing contracts, according to people familiar with the matter. The EU’s executive arm told the governments that the guidance does not prevent companies from opening an account at Gazprombank and