Russian rouble weakens against US dollar amid uncertainty

MOSCOW, April 1 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble weakened against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday amid geopolitical uncertainty after losing support from currency sales by exporting companies that paid their corporate taxes last week.

By 0945 GMT, the rouble was down 2.1% at 84.70 against the dollar in the over-the-counter market.

The Russian currency is up about 25% against the dollar this year, mostly on expectations of easing geopolitical tensions.

The Kremlin said that Russia and the U.S. were working on ideas for a possible peace settlement in Ukraine and on building bilateral ties despite U.S. President Donald Trump saying that he was "pissed off" with President Vladimir Putin.

"For now, due to geopolitical factors, the market will remain highly volatile, and the exchange rate is capable of moving within a wide range," Bank of Saint Petersburg's analysts said in a research note.

Against the Chinese yuan, the most traded foreign currency in Russia, the rouble was up 0.6% at 11.70 on the Moscow Stock Exchange.