Central Bank decides to keep part of Russia's gold and hard currency reserves in euros

Russia's Central Bank has decided to keep part of Russia's gold and hard currency reserves in euros. This was announced by Russian President Vladimir at a press conference after the Russia-EU summit.

In Putin's words, at the time when he became Russia's president 3 years ago, the gold and hard currency reserves stood at 11 billion dollars. "Now they amount to over 61 billion," Putin added, noting that these reserves were constantly growing.

The European Union is a major trade and economic partner of Russia, Putin pointed out. "As the EU expands, in case we overcome difficulties in economic interaction, our trade turnover will be growing," he stressed.

According to the president, this will certainly lead to an expansion of the euro area in Russia-Europe relations.

"This is an inevitable result of our interaction's expansion," the Russian head of state believes.

Answering journalists' question about which currency, the dollar or the euro, he preferred himself, Vladimir Putin said with a smile: "The rouble."