Bloomberg learned about US plans to impose currency exchange restrictions against Russia

by time news

US authorities and European partners are considering the possibility of imposing sanctions on Russia’s largest banks and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions. US President Joe Biden can announce the possibility of introducing such sanctions to Russian President Vladimir Putin during negotiations on December 7.

The interlocutors of the publication said that the sanctions may affect the ability of Russia to convert rubles into dollars and other currencies. Also, the United States may limit the ability of investors to buy Russian debt on the secondary market. The most radical option would be to ban Russia’s access to the SWIFT financial payment system, but such a measure would harm ordinary citizens, so officials are inclined to the option of restricting the transfer of rubles to other currencies.

CNN reported yesterday that the Biden administration is discussing new sanctions against Russia if it “invades” Ukraine. The sanctions may affect the “closest circle” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, energy companies, another option is to disconnect Russia from the international payment system SWIFT. Such measures are still being discussed with European partners, but the final decision has not yet been made, the newspaper writes. New US sanctions against Russia could also affect Russian sovereign debt, CNN claims.

Reports of alleged plans for a Russian “invasion” of Ukraine appeared in a number of Western media in the fall. For example, Bloomberg, citing data from American intelligence, claimed that about 100,000 Russian soldiers could invade Ukraine from three directions at once. Other publications reported on the transfer of Russian military personnel and equipment to the borders of the republic.

The Kremlin categorically denies plans to attack Ukraine. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is moving troops within its territory and at its discretion. The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova, in turn, announced that 125,000 Ukrainian troops were being drawn into the conflict zone in the Donbass.

Last week, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland threatened to impose “unprecedented” economic sanctions against Russia in the event of aggression against Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has promised to retaliate. Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that Russia does not have such plans and that it does not pose a threat to other countries of the world. Putin himself stressed that earlier it was also said that Russia would allegedly invade the territory of Ukraine, but this did not happen.

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