Switching to national currencies with the other CIS countries will strengthen sovereignty and deepen integration. This was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, RIA Novosti reports.

"I am confident that such positive trends [i.e., the increase in trade between Russia and the other CIS countries] will develop as a result of a more vigorous transition to national currencies in reciprocal calculations. Basically, we have been doing this for many years, and it is in no way related to any political situation. It will help strengthen the financial sovereignty of our countries, develop domestic markets, and deepen regional economic integration," said the Russian president.

To note, Armenia also is a CIS member country.