The Group of Seven countries have agreed to refuse Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand to pay for natural gas imports in rubles.

G7 ministers held an emergency meeting on Monday in response to a request from Germany.

They looked into the plans Putin revealed last week to demand ruble payments for gas sales to what Moscow has deemed "unfriendly" countries, including the US and European nations.

Japanese economy ministry officials said the G7 ministers agreed that the demand is a clear breach of existing contracts. They said the majority of payments are being made in dollars or euros.

The ministers also agreed to call on businesses in their respective countries not to agree to Russia's demand.

Japanese Economy Minister Hagiuda Koichi said after the meeting that G7 countries must unite and send an unwavering message to the world.

He also said Japan will try to reduce its dependence on Russia by diversifying its energy supplies and adjusting its natural gas investment policy.

The ministry said it has not been asked by Moscow to make ruble payments in connection with the "Sakhalin-2" natural gas development project in Russia's far east. Major Japanese trading houses have a stake in the project.