MOSCOW, March 18 Reuters The rouble was flat against the dollar on Thursday, steadying after a selloff in Russian assets triggered by U.S. President Joe Biden saying his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would pay for attempted election interference.

At 0748 GMT, the rouble was 0.1 weaker against the dollar at 73.74, after losing more than 1 in the previous session, at one point touching 74.22, its weakest since March 9.

Against the euro, the rouble had gained 0.2 to trade at 88.09.

Biden was quoted by ABC News as saying that Putin would face consequences for directing efforts to swing last years U.S. election in Donald Trumps favour.

Biden made his comments after a U.S. intelligence report released on Tuesday supported longstanding allegations that Putin was behind Russian interference in U.S. elections, an accusation Russia called baseless.

Washington is expected to impose new sanctions on Moscow as soon as next week.

One of the main fears remains possible restrictions on Russian government debt, the broker Otkritie said in a note.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Wednesday it would be a pity if foreigners stopped buying Russias debt, but Moscow would find ways to fund its costs. However, a slew of analysts said measures targeting Russias debt were unlikely.

We believe that next week the United States will limit itself to targeted sanctions and the rouble will recoup some of its losses, said Mikhail Vasiliev of Sovcombank.

The geopolitical…