A US official confirms that the separation of Russia from the Swift system will make the ruble in a “free fall”

“Russia has become a pariah state economically and financially at the international level,” the official added, stressing that the Russian Central Bank “will not be able to support the ruble.”

He added that Russian President Vladimir “only Putin can decide the size of the additional costs” that his country will bear, explaining that a working team has been formed “that will pursue the Russian oligarchs, their yachts, planes, luxury cars and luxury homes.”

In the future, wealthy Russians linked to the Russian government will not be allowed to use the so-called “golden passport” system to obtain European citizenships for themselves and their family members.

Westerners also intend to strengthen coordination between them against disinformation and other forms of “hybrid warfare”, according to a joint statement issued Saturday, following a meeting between the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Canada, Italy and the European Commission.

The Kremlin has so far played down the impact of sanctions imposed by Western countries, including those targeting Putin personally, as a sign of impotence.