Commenter Ray So-Cal must have a direct line to somebody:
Russian banks rush to switch to Chinese card system
Reuters ^Several Russian banks said on Sunday they would soon start issuing cards using the Chinese UnionPay card operator's system coupled with Russia's own Mir network, after Visa and MasterCard said they were suspending operations in Russia.
Announcements regarding the switch to UnionPay came on Sunday from Sberbank (SBER.MM), Russia's biggest lender, as well as Alfa Bank and Tinkoff.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
It must be nice to have so much money you can just kiss all Russian business goodbye as it leaves for your huge Chinese competitor.
Yep, draw Putin and Xi, along with their economies, closer together! What could possibly go wrong?
This 👇 is an interesting big picture perspective that corresponds to your thinking Mark, I think. https://twitter.com/TsarKastik/status/1500487928836984837?t=ivxwqk4OOo5-J7_ylzpCEw&s=19