Russian Finance Ministry Hopes Ukraine Fulfills All Debt Obligations

MOSCOW, April 9 (RIA Novosti) – Russia hopes Ukraine will fulfill all of its debt obligations, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Wednesday during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on economic cooperation with Ukraine.

“We hope for the fulfillment of all of the obligations from the Ukrainian side taken during the issuance of the according debt obligations,” said Siluanov, recalling last year’s deal in which Russia acquired $3 billion in Ukrainian Eurobonds.

Siluanov added the Finance Ministry will consider Ukraine’s request for another tranche of $3 billion depending on further developments of the situation in the crisis-hit country.

“Ukraine’s Finance Minister asked Russia for additional help in buying another tranche of Eurobonds worth $3 billion,” said Siluanov.

Russia made a crucial decision to invest a hefty $15 billion in Ukrainian eurobonds late last year, disbursing the first tranche of $3 billion in December. Moscow and Kiev also agreed to steeply cut gas prices for Ukraine in an effort to boost the country’s sluggish economy. The cash injections and discounts were frozen following a coup amid violent protests in February that led to far-right parties gaining key positions in the new government.

Leave a comment