MILAN (Reuters) – The Italian government is in contact with its European partners to give a firm response to Russia after a decree introduced by Moscow requiring European importers to pay roubles for Russian gas. “The prime minister will speak to German Chancellor [Olaf]Scholz this evening and bilateral talks are under way between energy ministers,” Italy’s Ecology Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani said in a statement on Thursday. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday requiring foreign buyers to pay roubles for Russian gas from April 1 or see their contracts halted,…