Russia, Afghanistan Drop Dollar for Trade Deals

Russia and Afghanistan are planning to abandon the use of the US dollar in their financial transactions, opting instead to use the Russian ruble and the Afghan afghani.

This shift is part of a broader strategy to circumvent Western sanctions, according to Dmitry Zhirnov, Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan.

In a recent interview with Russia’s TASS news agency, Zhirnov explained that both Moscow and Kabul are facing unilateral and unjust sanctions from the West.

The move to phase out the dollar is seen as a measure to mitigate the impact of these sanctions.

However, Zhirnov acknowledged that Afghanistan still needs to work on converting its currency to facilitate this transition.

The Russian ambassador highlighted the growing economic ties between Russia and Afghanistan, noting a significant increase in trade between the two nations. "Our exports are expanding rapidly," Zhirnov stated.

This development follows President Vladimir Putin's call, made at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last month, for stronger economic relations between Russia and the Taliban government of Afghanistan.

The shift reflects a broader trend among some countries to seek alternatives to the US dollar amidst escalating geopolitical tensions.