Leaders from some European Union member states said on March 24 that Russia's demand that "unfriendly" countries use roubles to buy for its oil and gas could breach supply contracts, reported from Reuters.

President Vladimir Putin's demand on March 23 for rouble payments sent European gas prices surging and added to concerns over supply disruptions in the EU, which gets about 40% of its gas from Russia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the move was an attempt to circumvent EU sanctions against Russia.

"We will not allow our sanctions to be circumvented. The time when energy could be used to blackmail us is over," she said.

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