With a decree signed by Putin, the deadline for the decision determining the special payment process applied to foreign companies purchasing Russian gas has been extended to July 1st. Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended the permission for buyer companies in the export of Russian gas to make payments to banks other than Gazprombank. Accordingly, the permission for companies to use banks other than Gazprombank for payments for Russian gas will continue. Russia had put into effect a decree on April 1, 2022, foreseeing that unfriendly countries could open foreign exchange and ruble accounts at Gazprombank and make payments in rubles. Gazprombank, a partner of the Russian energy company Gazprom, was being used for payments made for natural gas exports to Europe. The US administration had started imposing sanctions on Gazprombank on November 21, 2024, in order to prevent Russia from using the international financial system. Putin had approved a decree in December 2024 allowing payments to be made through other banks.