Electronic scoreboard with dollar signMOSCOW, Jan 25The geopolitical rhetoric around Ukraine is the main reason for the depreciation of the ruble, with a negative development of events, the dollar may rise to 85-90 rubles over the next 30 days, Sergei Grishunin, managing director of the NRA rating service, told RIA Novosti. Ukraine on Monday continued the fall observed over the past few days: the dollar rose above 79 rubles, and the euro — above 89 rubles. As a result, the Bank of Russia announced the suspension of operations for the purchase of foreign currency on the market. Against this background, the Russian currency won about 90 kopecks from the dollar and the euro, but after some time it again decreased to the above levels. ruble is not justified by anything,» Grishunin is sure. Substantial gold and foreign exchange reserves, low external debt, a budget surplus and a current account surplus support the stability of the Russian financial system, the analyst emphasizes. «The rate could return to fundamental values on its own if geopolitical rhetoric around Ukraine will calm down somewhat, and all interested parties will confirm their intention to resolve all issues through diplomacy. However, the probability of a negative scenario remains extremely high. In the event of a negative development of events, we see the ruble against the dollar in the range of 85-90 rubles over the next 30 days,» — conclude Chil Grishunin. Russia has repeatedly rejected the accusations of the West and Ukraine of «aggressive actions», stating that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and statements about «Russian aggression» are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously noted that Western statements about «Russian aggression» and the possibility of helping Kiev defend itself against it are both ridiculous and dangerous. At the same time, Kiev and Western states have recently expressed concern about the alleged increase in «aggressive actions» sides of Russia near the borders of Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is moving troops within its territory and at its own discretion. According to him, this does not threaten anyone and should not bother anyone.
