Russia considering payment of UN contributions in rubles - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. July 13 (Interfax) - Russia is considering the possible payment of contributions to the United Nations in rubles, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for International Organizations Pyotr Ilyichev said in an interview with Interfax.

"A shift to paying the contributions in rubles is being considered and largely depends on the preparedness and ability of our partners in the UN to accept payments in the Russian currency," Ilyichev said.

Russia is paying contributions to the budgets of UN agencies "in full and, whenever that is possible, in due time," he said.

The Western sanctions include extensive measures that limit the normal functioning of the Russian financial system, Ilyichev said.

"This makes us develop new modalities in the fulfillment of financial obligations to the budgets of the UN and its specialized agencies. Naturally, the biggest problems are linked to the actions of U.S. banks. In certain cases, the unfriendly policy is pursued by members of the Swiss banking system," he said.