The Russian rouble has jumped to around a two-year high against both the US dollar and the Euro, retaining the support of hefty capital controls as the European Union proposes a new package of sanctions against Russia for events in Ukraine.

Iran PressEurope: On Wednesday tradings, the rouble was 0.7 percent stronger against the dollar at 70.49, after touching 68.6250 in early trade, its strongest since June 2020.

It had gained 1.2 percent to trade at 73.84 versus the euro, earlier hitting 72.00, its strongest point since February 2020.

Movements on Russian markets are affected by the Rouble being propped up by capital controls, while stocks are trading with a ban on short selling and foreign players barred from ditching shares in Russian companies without permission.

Market participants question if the current rate is sustainable in light of the curbs after the Rouble sank to a record low in early March as Western nations pounded Moscow and its financial system with unprecedented sanctions.

Russia's last-minute Dollar bond payment on Friday, an apparent swerve to avoid default after previously vowing to pay only in Roubles, helped relieve some pressure on its assets.

Meanwhile, Australia’s government introduced targeted economic sanctions against 110 citizens of Russia, the LPR, and DPR over the situation in Ukraine, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said in a statement published on Wednesday on the ministry’s website.

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