Zaika: Belarusian rubel likely to weaken against Russian currency

The weaker Russian ruble is unlikely to affect the Belarusian currency, economist Leanid Zaika told ERB.

The Russian currency fell by almost one ruble against the US dollar and by about 50 kopecks against the euro on August 11.

 

Zaika said that the Russian currency is likely to strengthen against the Belarusian rubel in the long term, noting that trade with the EU helps slow the rubel's depreciation.  Belarus' trade deficit with Russia widens by $750 million every month, Zaika stressed.