Igor Nikolaev: “Only for rubles”

“The proposal that the largest Russian exporters transfer payments for their foreign supplies to rubles is gaining momentum. I would understand if these ideas came only from State Duma deputies, they could still be forgiven. But when business representatives started talking about it... .

It is clear that there is a conjuncture of the moment. In the wake of jingoistic hysteria that has gripped wide sections of society (probably, one can say so without exaggeration), such assumptions may even seem quite realistic. Well, what about in reality?

Well, let’s imagine that we have now decided to sell our oil only for rubles (now I’m not even talking about the fact that payment in US dollars is the payment currency, fixed, as a rule, in long-term contracts).”