Overview
- In a Dec. 4 interview with India Today, Vladimir Putin said Russia will not rush a BRICS currency or sweeping financial changes.
- He pointed to eurozone strains as a warning against adopting a common currency before economies are ready.
- He said rupee–rouble settlement lags for economic reasons, with Russia accruing rupees from oil sales that it struggles to spend in India.
- He added that India has not restricted bilateral trade and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has requested increased Russian fertiliser supplies for farmers.
- He said he directed a special meeting of Russian importers to identify Indian goods Russia can buy more of to help correct the trade imbalance.