Russia to halt gas exports to Finland, energy provider says

• Gasum, Finland's energy provider, said its filling stations will continue to function normally. It will receive gas from an alternative source through the Balticconnector pipeline, which runs from Estonia to Finland.
• The Finnish government also signed a ten-year lease agreement on Friday for a U.S. liquefied natural gas terminal ship to safeguard the country's energy supply.

What they're saying: “It is highly regrettable that natural gas supplies under our supply contract will now be halted," said Mika Wiljane, Gasum's CEO, in a statement.

• "We have been carefully preparing for this situation,” he added.

The big picture: Russia cut gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria in April after those countries also refused to make payments in rubles. They and others have said the ultimatum amounts to a breach of contract.

• Russian President Putin's payment demand was part of an effort to bolster the ruble, which collapsed immediately after the invasion of Ukraine. However, the currency has recently rebounded.

• Putin warned Finnish President Sauli Niinistö last week that a Finnish application for NATO membership "could have a negative effect" on relations between the two countries. Finland and Sweden both formally applied to join the defensive alliance this week.

Go deeper: Finland and Sweden bring military might to NATO