They did for months. Russia was blocked from the SWIFT system which was used for the international transactions, mostly in euro and dollars. So Russia could literally not sell anything because it would not get paid. So they wanted to get paid in rubles and even set up exchange accounts in Russia in order to do so. Several EU countries did it, like Hungary, Bulgaria and Italy. Only after months of naked hostility and economic warfare Russia refused to trade, small wonder considering EU is openly declaring itself enemy to Russia.
The SWIFT ban was specifically designed to not block any gas, oil or coal related trades between Russia and Europe, so that these can continue as the EU was very much aware that this kind of sanctions results into no benefit for them.
They did for months. Russia was blocked from the SWIFT system which was used for the international transactions, mostly in euro and dollars. So Russia could literally not sell anything because it would not get paid. So they wanted to get paid in rubles and even set up exchange accounts in Russia in order to do so. Several EU countries did it, like Hungary, Bulgaria and Italy. Only after months of naked hostility and economic warfare Russia refused to trade, small wonder considering EU is openly declaring itself enemy to Russia.
The SWIFT ban was specifically designed to not block any gas, oil or coal related trades between Russia and Europe, so that these can continue as the EU was very much aware that this kind of sanctions results into no benefit for them.