MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/. The share of the ruble in Russia's foreign trade settlements is approaching 40%, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Russian Energy Week.

"The share of the ruble in foreign trade transactions is already approaching 40%," he said.

Putin also noted that from 2021 to 2023 the share of the ruble in export settlements will increase almost threefold to 39%, and in the first half of this year the figure was already 39.4%.

Vladimir Putin said earlier that the share of settlements in "toxic" Western currencies in Russian trade turnover has halved, following unfriendly actions regarding its financial institutions, while the share of the ruble has grown to 40%.

"Last year, the share of settlements for Russian exports in so-called toxic Western currencies halved, the share of settlements in rubles in foreign trade transactions is approaching 40%," the head of state said.

In 2021-2023, the share of settlements in national currencies tripled to 39%, the share of settlements in rubles for imports increased by 2%, to 30%, the head of state added.