OREANDA-NEWS  Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said that the countries adhere to a flexible approach to the use of different currencies in mutual settlements, using both dollars and national currencies, as well as the currencies of third countries. This is reported by Izvestia.

According to him, the priority areas of work are the optimization of settlement mechanisms, synchronization of MIR payment systems, as well as the use of an alternative SWIFT system for the exchange of financial information and the general expansion of interbank cooperation.

Alipov added that the parties would not have refused to use the American currency, "if we were not forced." According to him, "the trend of de-dollarization is set" by the United States.

The Ambassador stressed that India sees the risks associated with foreign currencies. In this regard, the country has legislated the possibility of using the rupee in international settlements — it is already being implemented with almost 20 countries, he added.

Earlier it was reported that Russia's desire to sell oil to India for rupees led to problems with the withdrawal of funds from the country. Indian currency accumulates in the accounts of local banks in the amount of about a billion dollars a month, and national legislation does not allow Russian companies to repatriate. As a result, in early May, the countries suspended negotiations on switching to national currencies in settlements, as Moscow realized the level of losses.