Chávez supports the Russian Ruble as a world currency.

President Chávez and President Medvedev (doesn't he look oh so smug?)

While Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is on his European tour he stopped in Russia to meet with President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin and chat about the economy and a strategic alliance to protect Venezuela from the US (I’m sorry did it just get a little Cold War-ish in here?). Chávez had breezed through the country cutting numerous business deals between his nation and oil/energy companies and the Russian Federation. Russia has seen a huge economic boom due to the outsourcing of its oil. This is very similar to the situation as these two oil rich nations see the benefits fill the state coffers. While in Russia Chávez said “The ruble must become a world currency, the dollar must not become a world currency.” This echoes Russian policy as a way for the ruble to become a major reserve currency to oppose the weakened dollar.

More after the link.

I am unsure of how I feel about this. I want to support it due to the stabilization and strengthening of the Russian economy. The current exchange rate is 1 USD to just over 23 RUB. When I went to Russia 4 years ago (Really that long?! Sounds like time to go again.) I was getting about 1 USD to 31-33 RUB. This is a dramatic change in just 4 short years. Some may just blame it on the current economic crisis, but I believe it is a combination of that and the improving Russian economy. Russia is experiencing its first boom since the economic crisis of 1998 and 10 years later it appears to be on the right track to continue this upward trend.
But, will the Ruble be a major reserve currency/world currency? I just don’t think it is in the cards. But, I am also no economist. We are all uncertain in this time of economic woe and anything could happen.

This article is a little outdated (2004) but I feel like it still has some value on the topic of dollar/ruble connections.