Cbanker: US dollar operations to remain available after sanctions

MOSCOW, Sep 21 (PRIME) -- U.S. dollar operations will not be suspended for Russians if the U.S. introduces new sanctions, First Deputy Central Bank Chairman Sergei Shvetsov said at a forum on Friday.

“The U.S. is the party interested least of all in prohibiting the use of the dollar… There are some payment systems there, they will become unavailable, but it will in no way affect the dollar’s ability to service Russia’s external trade,” he said.

“Part of the financial sector will re-direct to internal operations, and the rest will continue working as they did. So there will be no blockade in terms of the use of the dollar, at least it is not a topical issue considering the current rhetoric.”

Shvetsov added that rumors on problems linked with the U.S. dollar are exaggerated, but it does not mean that Russia should rely on the U.S., European or any other foreign currency in its external or internal operations.

In August, U.S. anti-Russian sanctions over Moscow’s alleged involvement in the March poisoning of the Skripal family in the U.K. came into force. The second package of sanctions that can affect the domestic state banks may be introduced in November.

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