31 Mar 2022, 5:30 pm
01 Apr 2022, 5:58 am
I know that this is off topic, but....
Are you Aussies a bunch of illiterates?
Or is it just your Sky News?
The European nations in question are "refusing" Putin's demand. Not "refuting" it.
To "refute" something means "to prove it to be factually wrong". Not "to refuse it". 
If I claim that the Moon is made of cheese, and you show me the actual moon rocks brought back by the Apollo Astronauts, then you have "refuted" my claim.
If I accuse you of a crime, and you show evidence of an alibi then you have "refuted" my accusation.
01 Apr 2022, 6:05 am
Are you Aussies a bunch of illiterates?
Or is it just your Sky News?
The European nations in question are "refusing" Putin's demand. Not "refuting" it.
To "refute" something means "to prove it to be factually wrong". Not "to refuse it".
If I claim that the Moon is made of cheese, and you show me the actual moon rocks brought back by the Apollo Astronauts, then you have "refuted" my claim.
If I accuse you of a crime, and you show evidence of an alibi then you have "refuted" my accusation.
I think they may have had this definition in mind:
"a spokesman totally refuted the allegation of bias"
https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... q=refuting
disagree (with), dispute.
Synonyms & Antonyms of refute - Merriam-Webster
01 Apr 2022, 6:26 am
Are you Aussies a bunch of illiterates?
Or is it just your Sky News?
The European nations in question are "refusing" Putin's demand. Not "refuting" it.
To "refute" something means "to prove it to be factually wrong". Not "to refuse it".
If I claim that the Moon is made of cheese, and you show me the actual moon rocks brought back by the Apollo Astronauts, then you have "refuted" my claim.
If I accuse you of a crime, and you show evidence of an alibi then you have "refuted" my accusation.
I think they may have had this definition in mind:
"a spokesman totally refuted the allegation of bias"
https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... q=refuting
disagree (with), dispute.
Synonyms & Antonyms of refute - Merriam-Webster
Still wrong.
None of those definitions is correct for whats meant.
If I offer you a deal, and you turn it down, then you "refuse the deal". you're not refuting it.
However ...IF Angela Merkel PUBLICLY stood up to Putin and refused to pay for gas in rubles, but if she were to somehow buy gas for Germany through the back door by paying rubles anyway- and you found out, and called her out for it- then she would have to "refute" your claim, and try to provide an alibi.
01 Apr 2022, 6:34 am
^ Well, I wouldn't have used the word "refute", but if you substitute the synonym of "deny" you would have the sentence:
NATO powers "deny" Putin's ruble demand.
I think this is valid, but as I said, I wouldn't have used it myself.
It is creative, though. 
2.
refuse to give (something requested or desired) to (someone).
"the inquiry was denied access to intelligence sources"
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=deny
