Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that he and Iranian Communications Minister, Mahmoud Vaezi discussed the issues related to the study into the possibility of establishing the Free Trade Area between countries and noted the progress made in this direction. Source: Sputnik
Sanctions are forcing Russia to find alternative settlement currencies to the US dollar to ensure the security of the country’s economy, according to President Vladimir Putin.“We are moving to the de-dollarization of the economy. We are doing so not because we want to undermine the dollar, but because we want to ensure our security. We are constantly facing sanctions, they do not give us the opportunity to work in dollars,” Putin said on Thursday at the Valdai Discussion Club meeting in Sochi. Source RT
Leaders from Russia, Turkey, Germany and France will meet in Istanbul next week in an effort to shore up a truce preventing further violence in Syria’s last rebel-held region and bolster the political process toward ending the seven-year civil war. Source: Bloomberg
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that his country is ready to further strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard and promote common interests and global peace and development. Source: Xinhuanet
