Russian exporters to say nyet to US dollar (update)

KALININGRAD: Russia, keen to dodge threatened Western sanctions against its companies over the Ukraine crisis, said on Wednesday it was looking at ways to make its major state-owned exporters such as energy giants receive payment in roubles.

The idea of major exporters being paid in roubles rather than dollars has been gaining ground in recent weeks in response to sanctions imposed by the West on officials and companies over Russia's annexation of Crimea and an uprising in Ukraine's east.