Putin Touts 90% Dollar-Free CIS Trade as Russia Sidesteps Western Sanctions

At the CIS summit in Turkmenistan, Putin highlighted more than $110 billion in regional trade and 90% of settlements conducted in national currencies. While Moscow uses regional trade networks to reduce Western financial pressure, the bloc faces declining political influence. Azerbaijan will chair the CIS in 2028, while Lukashenko hopes Armenia will follow in 2029.