The Russian rouble surged past 81 to the U.S. dollar on Thursday, marking a 40% increase since the beginning of 2025.
The currency's rise is largely attributed to rising oil prices, which have bolstered Russia's main export sector. At 0900 GMT, the rouble was up by 1.5%, reaching 80.90 to the dollar in light trading ahead of the Orthodox Easter holiday. Oil prices saw a 3% jump on April 17, further supporting the rouble's gains.
This marks the rouble's strongest position since June 28, 2024, signaling a notable recovery for the Russian currency. The rouble has gained significantly since the start of the year, buoyed by expectations of easing tensions between Russia and the United States. Despite this, the rouble has remained unaffected by recent comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who suggested that President Donald Trump may soon abandon efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine unless clear progress is made.
Against the Chinese yuan, which the Russian central bank uses for foreign exchange interventions, the rouble was up 0.1%, trading at 11.08 on the Moscow Stock Exchange. The rouble's resilience reflects both the strength of Russia's energy exports and the ongoing shift in global financial dynamics.
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