Poland and Bulgaria have stated that they'll never bow to Russia after Gazprom cut off their gas supplies

In Wloclawek, Poland, a compressor gas station for the Yamal–Europe gas pipeline. Image Credit: Getty

Insider News: Poland and Bulgaria declared on Wednesday that they will not bow to Russia after the country's state-owned energy company Gazprom indicated that it will cut off their gas supplies.

The Russian energy giant said in a statement seen by Reuters that its services will not be restored unless the countries pay for gas in rubles, Russia's currency, which has suffered since Russia invaded Ukraine.

According to the BBC, Poland's gas supply has already been cut.

Bulgartransgaz, Bulgaria's gas network operator, told local news outlet Novinite on Wednesday morning that supplies were still flowing, but that this could alter over the day.

Both countries have stated that they can survive without Gazprom's gas in the short term and are looking for alternatives.

According to Novinite, Bulgaria's energy minister Alexander Nikolov said on Wednesday, "We have provided alternative supplies for a sufficiently foreseeable duration."

"As long as I am a minister and accountable for this," he concluded, "Bulgaria will not negotiate under duress or with its head bowed." "Bulgaria will not yield and will not be sold to any trading counterparty at whatever price."

According to the BBC, Bulgaria relies on Gazprom for more than 90% of its gas supply. According to Novinite, Nikolov reassured the public that no restrictions on consumption were currently required.

Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister, Marcin Przdacz, told the BBC that the country "made some decisions many years ago to prepare for such a situation."

Przdacz also told the BBC that there are "options to get the gas from other partners," such as the United States and the Middle East.

According to the BBC, the Polish state gas company PGNiG purchased 53% of its gas imports from Gazprom in the first quarter of this year.

Gazprom's energy cut comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened last month that if "unfriendly countries" do not pay in rubles, he will stop supplying gas to Europe.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and European Union countries are among the "unfriendly countries" on Russia's list, which was compiled in reaction to worldwide condemnation of the country's invasion of Ukraine in February.