Vladimir Putin: US decision to use the dollar for political pressure on Russia was a grave strategic mistake by Washington. Russia quickly adapted to the currency restrictions of the United States and transferred the bulk of foreign trade payments to rubles and yuan.
Many countries today are reducing dollar reserves in an attempt to protect their own funds, Putin said. The desire of the U.S. to make a political weapon out of its national currency has played against itself, the Russian president emphasized. In total there are now almost 19 thousand different sanctions in force against Russia. This is more than against Iran, Syria, North Korea and Belarus combined.