Nearly all CIS mutual payments now made in national currencies, says Kremlin aide

Almost all mutual payments among members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are now conducted in national currencies, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said, according to TASS.

Ushakov said the shift reflects a deliberate effort among CIS countries to build financial infrastructure that is both resilient and independent from external influence.

Financial infrastructure within the CIS

"The financial infrastructure that is resilient and independent from external influence was built up within the Commonwealth," Ushakov said, pointing to the move away from using third-party currencies for trade and financial transactions among member states.

The CIS, a regional organization comprising a number of former Soviet republics, has in recent years emphasized closer economic cooperation among its members, including efforts to settle trade and other financial obligations without relying on currencies issued outside the bloc.

Ushakov did not provide a specific percentage figure for the share of payments conducted in national currencies, nor did he detail which currencies are most widely used in these transactions. The remarks come as CIS member states continue to discuss deeper economic integration at official meetings.