Japan intends to require companies to refrain from paying in rubles in transactions

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Tuesday that Japanese companies will be asked to respond “no” if Russia requests payment in rubles in economic transactions, especially in the energy sector.

Russia last week demanded that “unfriendly” countries pay in rubles, not euros, for its gas, following the union of the United States and its European allies to impose a series of sanctions against Russia.