(Read the full article on news.ru)
The international rating agency Moody’s has warned of the risk of Russia being cut off from payment systems due to US sanctions, News.ru reported.
Although Moody’s considers such measures unlikely, possible new restrictions on Moscow’s access to international payment systems add to the uncertainty, the company said in a report.
Constant threats of new restrictions “remain a characteristic feature of the RF credit profile”. They, according to analysts, impede the expansion of investments, influence the budgetary policy of the RF Cabinet, put pressure on the financial flexibility of the state and the growth potential of its economy. At the same time, Moody’s retained the long-term sovereign rating of the Russian Federation at ‘Baa3’ with a stable outlook.
On the eve of the head of VTB Andrey Kostin said that he did not believe in disconnecting Russia from the International Interbank System of Information Transfer and Payment (SWIFT). The US countries have other tools to hit the banking sector. He added that neither in 2014, nor in 2018, nor in 2021 did he consider disabling SWIFT a real opportunity.