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Russia's stop to gas is costly for Russia's economy - but the fight against the West is more important | Abroad | DR There are probably both big politics and economic considerations behind the halt to the supply of Russian gas to Poland and Bulgaria. Of Almost half. So much constitutes from oil and gas of Russia's total. One, which now stands to become smaller, after the Russian gas company Gazprom yesterday chose to turn off the supply to Poland and Bulgaria. which Russia made a month ago to those of its customers whom Putin called "unfriendly countries". But even if the lack of gas and oil revenues is going to make a proper dent in the Russian economy, then there is exactly one thing is more important for Russia right now, says DR's in Russia, Matilde Kimer. - The revenue from oil and gas makes up 40 percent of the total Russian, so it is an extremely important source of income. But I also think that one must realize that the Russian is willing to go on and on in order to maintain the geopolitical struggle that is going on against the West, she says. © Type 1Matilde Kimer covers as DR's Russia and Ukraine correspondent throughout the former Soviet territory. She is based in Copenhagen and Moscow. Russia has undoubtedly been planning for a long time how to hit the European countries. Not least after 40 countries met yesterday in Germany to discuss how they can strengthen cooperation on military support for Ukraine. It tells Steffen Gram, DR's international. - It may be the Russians' "retaliation", he says and continues: - Seen with the eyes of the Russians, the West is doing what we can to hurt the Russians in Ukraine. And the Russians are thinking: It must hurt the Europeans too. Therefore, they stop for the natural gas first to Poland, then Bulgaria and possibly other countries. The decision also happens as a consequence of the economic, which the West has introduced towards Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, says Steffen Gram. They mean, among other things, that they no longer can make foreign exchange transactions to Russia. Therefore, Russia has demanded rubles in payment for gas supplies - and not US dollars or euros, as otherwise prescribed. West side stuck in the wording in. And it is here that the Russians say "bad luck, then we have to shut off the gas". On Tuesday, Poland's largest importer of Russian gas, PGNiG, announced that the Russian gas company Gazprom has suspended the supply of gas through the Yamal pipeline, which extends from Siberia in Russia to Poland and Germany via Belarus. According to Gazprom, supply would resume as soon as Poland pays for the gas in Russian currency. Later in the day, Bulgaria confirmed that it had also been informed by Gazprom that delivery to Bulgaria via the Ukrainian pipeline would cease until one pays in rubles - a demand made by Russia a month ago.On Wednesday, Gazprom confirmed that it has shut down the supply.Both countries have refused to pay in rubles as they do not believe it is part of the original contract with Russia. As much as 90 percent of Bulgaria's energy supply consists of Russian gas, while the Russian share of the Polish energy supply makes up 45 percent. Both countries are members of defense Although the oil and gas sector makes up an entire part of the Russian economy, Russia has for several years looked after other customers and, among other things, boosted gas and oil exports to countries such as China and India. Even though those countries pay less for gas than, for example, Poland and Bulgaria. The change is not least due to the European ambitions to get rid of Russian energy. An objective dating back to before the invasion of Ukraine. Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, it has been looking for alternatives to the Russian gas and oil. In 2021, however, Russian natural gas still accounted for. Nevertheless, Europe is a customer that is "halfway out of the store", and therefore Russia may also have had an interest in getting the European exit in advance, says Matilde Kimer. © Type 1Steffen Gram is an international correspondent in DR and hosts the radio program "The world according to Gram" .- Russia has set some conditions for payment for the gas, which in all probability will not be honored by the counterparty - ie the demand for payment in rubles. And when they then refuse, Russia pulls the plug, she says, comparing it to trying to strike up a boyfriend who then replies, "no, I'm breaking up." - There is definitely some signal value in being that, that pulls the plug. And a demonstration that we do not need you and your money, she says. Poland and Bulgaria are not the only countries that have refused to accept the Russian demands for payment in Russian. Germany, Europe's largest economy, which gets 55 percent of its natural gas from Russia, Also the Danish energy company Ørsted has so far But there are several reasons why Russia has chosen to target Bulgaria and Poland, Steffen Gram believes. are insanely annoyed at the Poles and it is mutual. The Poles are really at the forefront when it comes to supporting the Ukrainians. Politically, militarily, and at all levels, Poland is the country that takes in the most refugees. The Poles also have a historically tense relationship with Russia - it is clearly no secret, he says. - With Bulgaria, it may be due to a huge political pressure. Bulgaria is a major producer of weapons that the Ukrainians really need, it is, and it is weapons, he says, adding: It is an economic warfare right now.Steffen Gram, DR's international correspondent- It is an economic warfare right now. Russia - Matilde Kimer also calls Poland one of Europe's most Putin - critical countries. Bulgaria, on the other hand, is a completely different matter, she says: - Bulgaria is insanely dependent on Russian gas and has also been much more careful in criticizing Russia and cautious in its formulations as to why it does not want to pay in rubles. the harshest critics, and those who are most dependent on Russian energy. Whether it is a signal to the countries that are in the gap between the two, that they should think about the rest, it is difficult to predict, says Matilde Kimer. Although energy policy has been a point of contention between the West and Russia in recent for many years, it has also been a topic that has required negotiation, and therefore some form of cooperation and community. But that tool for cooperation is now being played by hand, assesses Matilde Kimer. - Gas and energy is a of the factors that we actually thought would hold us together and where we needed each other. Us who need Russia, and Russia who need our capital.- But it has come completely under dismantling now. And with this announcement, Russia has pulled a few more bricks out of the foundation. It was not because the building was not to be demolished anyway, it just went a whole lot faster than expected.