Russia is reportedly working to cut back its dependence on U.S. payment systems and the use of the American dollar as a settling currency, signaling the Kremlin is taking further retaliatory measures in response to new U.S. sanctions. "We will, of course, intensify work related to import substitution, reduction of dependence on U.S. payment systems, on the dollar as a settling currency and so on. It is becoming a vital need," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday, according to a Reuters report that cited the RIA news agency.