French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday there was no reason to accept a demand from Russia to pay up in rubles for Russian gas.

"All the texts that have been signed are clear. This is forbidden," Macron told a news conference after a European Union summit in Brussels.

"European firms that buy gas and which are operating on European territory have to do so in euros. Therefore it is not possible today to do what is being demanded, it is not contractual," added Macron.