PoliticsAugust 9, 2026 at 09:22 PM·5 days ago·1 min read·19
Putin Eases Restrictions on Foreign Bank Deposits in Russia
On August 4, Vladimir Putin signed a decree easing restrictions for foreign citizens and Russian branches of foreign companies whose funds were held in special accounts of type 'S'.
Now, some of these depositors will be able to manage their ruble assets and withdraw funds that were previously effectively frozen. The restrictions were implemented as a retaliatory measure by Russia against Western sanctions.
This news relates to the market question, "Will the official USD/RUB exchange rate be above 100 by December 31, 2026?" Easing controls on foreign capital could potentially increase the flow of funds through the Russian financial system and affect currency demand, although there is currently no direct impact on the exchange rate.
