WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is facing growing skepticism from some leading rich and developing nations as the residual impact of sanctions against Russia is deepening divisions among the Group of 20 countries. Russia and China, meanwhile, have declared a “no limits” partnership of their own. And the economic bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — known as BRICS — is trying to increase its use of local currencies instead of the U.S. dollar. Russia is hoping it can use its power over Ukraine’s Black Sea exports as a bargaining chip to reduce Western sanctions. That may be difficult as G20 nations increasingly gravitate into blocs and with some leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, opting to skip the summit.

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Persons: Janet Yellen, —, Joe Biden, Yellen, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Rachel Ziemba, ”, Xi Jinping, Josh Lipsky, Lipsky, Xi, Mark Sobel, ” Sobel, Ziemba Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, U.S ., West, Center, New, New American Security, Treasury Department, International Fund for Agricultural Development, GeoEconomics, Fund, Center for Strategic, International Studies, U.S, New Development Bank, Monetary Fund, World Bank, ”, European Union Locations: Russia, India, U.S, Moscow, Ukraine, United States, China, Brazil, South Africa, New Delhi, New American, Argentina, Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey