Russia Extends Ruble Gas Payment Option Beyond Gazprombank to April 1, 2026

The move keeps Russia’s sanctions-era gas payment workaround in place to protect export revenue.

Overview

President Vladimir Putin signed Decree No. 895, updating Decree No. 172 of March 31, 2022, on how foreign buyers settle for Russian natural gas.
The order prolongs permission to pay in rubles through Russian banks other than Gazprombank until April 1, 2026, replacing a December 31, 2025 expiry.
The revised rules specify that buyers from “unfriendly” countries may use alternative Russian credit institutions for gas payments.
Moscow has repeatedly rolled over this temporary regime through 2025, following a December 2024 change that also allowed routing payments via third parties.
Use of legacy “K” accounts tied to Gazprombank remains halted under U.S. sanctions and can resume only by presidential decision.