CIS countries could drop the U.S. dollar in financial settlements and start using their national currencies within the next few years, the Russian finance minister said on Friday.

Alexei Kudrin, who is also a Russian deputy prime minister, said the CIS heads of government had endorsed a plan to phase out the U.S. dollar.

He said initially national currencies, primarily the ruble, would be used alongside the dollar.

He added that national currencies were already being used "on some positions."

YALTA, November 20 (RIA Novosti)