Russia to ask for rouble payments for food and crops

Russia will only export food and crops to “friendly countries” in roubles or in their national currencies, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy secretary of the country’s Security Council, was quoted by RIA news agency as saying.

The comment comes after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s demand for rouble payments for gas was likely to be applied to more goods.

“I have no doubt that it will in the future be extended to new groups of goods,” Peskov said, according to the RIA news agency.