Asked if he thought the world was in a new Cold War, Kostin said that it was now a "hot war" that was more dangerous than the Cold War. VTB, Kostin said, was discussing using yuan in settlements with third countries. "We have already entered into a hot war," Kostin said of the crisis with Ukraine. The situation is worse than in the Cold War, it is very difficult and alarming." Asked if Russia's economy would remain a free economy, Kostin said: "I very much hope so."

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Persons: Dado Ruvic, Andrei Kostin, Kostin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, VTB, Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, U.S ., European Union, Reuters, U.S, JPMorgan, VEB, EU, West ., Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Russian, China, MOSCOW, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Moscow, Australia, Britain, Soviet Union