The decision to switch mostly to rubles and yuan was “timely” and has led to a strong boost in trade, the president says The vast majority of transactions between Russia and China are now carried out in national currencies, bypassing the US dollar, President Vladimir Putin has said.

China’s ambassador to the UK urges London not to follow Washington’s lead on the issue The Chinese envoy to the United Kingdom has warned that British and American interference on Taiwan could result in a war, claiming that Beijing’s ties with London are now at a crossroads over the island.

French presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen, in an interview on Tuesday, raised her voice against imposing sanctions on Russia’s energy exports since, she believes, the French will have to pay dearly for those restrictions. Le Pen noted that she is not against anti-Russian sanctions in other sectors of the economy.