The Foreign Ministry strengthened the ruble exchange rate, 88 thousand COVID infections per day. Highlights of the day

The Foreign Ministry’s statement about the inadmissibility of “even thinking” about a war with Ukraine strengthened the ruble and markets, economists called the consequences of fluctuations in the Russian currency, almost 90 thousand new covid infections per day.The main events of the day - in the review of RBC

Moscow declared the inadmissibility of "even the thought" of a war with Ukraine

RUSSIA does not even allow the thought of a war with Ukraine, said Alexei Zaitsev, Deputy DIRECTOR of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He mentioned the statements of the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov that Kyiv sees no reason to fear the “invasion” of Russia into Ukraine, which the West is talking about. The Minister of Defense of the country Alexei Reznikov agrees with him, the diplomat pointed out.

After this statement, the ruble strengthened sharply. The DOLLAR fell by almost 1.9 rubles, or more than 2%, to 77.61 rubles; the euro fell by 2.8 rubles, to 86.57 rubles. The RTS dollar index rose by more than 7% to 1426 points, while the ruble index of the Moscow Exchange added almost 5%, exceeding 3500 points for the first time since January 21 and rising to 3523 points.

What will happen to the ruble and is it worth selling: 10 economists answer

RBC interviewed ten economists and analysts of large investment banks and investment companies, in which direction the ruble exchange rate will move, why the Central Bank's refusal to purchase foreign currency did not lead to its significant strengthening, and whether investors should go into foreign currency.