// “SWIFT is an European company, an association of many participating countries. To make a decision on disconnection, a united decision of all participating countries is needed. The decisions of the United States and Great Britain are definitely not enough," Zhuravlev said, according to TASS.
"I'm not sure that other countries, especially those whose share of trade with Russia is large in balance, will support the shutdown," he added.
Moscow established its own payment system, SPFS, after it was hit by Western sanctions in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea early that year. SPFS now has around 400 users, according to Russia's central bank. Twenty percent of domestic transfers are currently done through SPFS.
China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, or CIPS, may provide another alternative to SWIFT. //
The US and Europe have not joined the UK in closing the SWIFT door. So our gesture is good, but futile until everyone else does.