moscow russian central bank hold key interest rate unchanged percent friday cite geopolitical risk inflationary pressure indicate rate cut would follow come months face new u.s. sanction recent spike food price central bank opt cautious no-change decision even though inflation key area focus nearly slow percent target inflation slowdown allow central bank cut benchmark borrow cost three time year help economy recover follow two years contraction volatility global commodity financial market well exchange rate dynamics amid elevate geopolitical risk may negative implications exchange rate inflation expectations central bank say statement u.s. senate week vote almost unanimously slap new sanction russia back provision allow congress stop effort president donald trump ease exist sanction although analysts play potential economic impact new sanction rouble drag low recent days rouble weakness intensify would represent inflation risk although annual inflation unexpectedly rise 4.1 percent may 4.4 percent last month high food price central bank say still saw room cut key rate second half 2017 new harvest would help low price fruit vegetables make decision hereinafter bank russia assess inflation risk inflation dynamics economic developments forecast bank say keep 2017 economic growth forecast unchanged 1.3-1.8 percent central bank note decline inflation expectations come end order maintain inflation close percent target bank russia continue conduct moderately tight monetary policy say bank previously promise keep key rate percentage point inflation extreme caution focus cbr dmitry polevoy chief economist ing bank moscow say research note threat u.s. sanction loom central bank likely want take risk financial stability keep rat stable say tim ash senior strategist bluebay asset management bank see cut main lend rate 8.25 percent end year reuters poll show last month capital economics say expect central bank cut rat soon next board meet schedule sept. 15 inflation would fall back towards central bank target year-end russia hold rat amid geopolitical risk see cut year-end