European capitals have been on alert for a disruption to gas imports for weeks as Putin seeks retaliation over the West sanctioning Russia for invading Ukraine.
A crunch point appeared to be in the offing when Moscow issued a decree on Thursday requiring foreign buyers of Russian gas to open rouble accounts in state-run Gazprombank from Friday or else risk being cut off.
The Kremlin said on Friday that it would not immediately turn off gas exports to Europe, as payments on deliveries due after April 1 come in the second half of this month and May.
With weeks left before bills are due, governments in Europe - which relies on Russia for more than a third of its gas supply - were talking to their energy companies about how to pay them.
“Working closely with Member States and operators. EU coordination today to establish a common approach on currency payments for gas contracts with Russia,” said Ditte Juul Jorgenesen, director general of the European Commission...