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Russian finance minister: Ukraine is virtually defaulting on its debt

Russia expects Ukraine to fully pay back its debt of $3 bln by December 2015

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov Yekaterina Shtukina/Russian government's press service/TASS

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov

© Yekaterina Shtukina/Russian government's press service/TASS

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/. Ukraine is virtually defaulting on its debt, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Wednesday.

"It is a virtual default. We do not yet have grounds [to lodge claims to Ukraine - TASS], in June we should receive payment [from Ukraine - TASS] of $75 mln. If there is no payment, we will use the right to appeal to court," the minister said.

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When answering the question whether Russia will apply to international court in case Ukraine refuses to repay its debt Siluanov said: "Absolutely - pursuant to our conditions of prospectus for bond issue that we invested in the funds of the National Wealth Fund."

Russia expects Ukraine to fully pay back its debt of $3 bln by December 2015.

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s parliament approved the law granting the government the right to impose moratorium on foreign debts payments, including the $3 bln debt received from Russia in 2013. The document was upheld by 256 MPs. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Ukraine was to pay $30 bln of foreign debt and $17 bln of domestic debt within 4 years. He added that the moratorium concerns only private creditors, holding the debt of Ukraine. He also called on the country's Western partners to grant it real financial assistance.

Kiev regards its $3 bln Eurobonds held by Russia as a private loan, which is thus subject to the moratorium. Moscow insists the loan cannot be considered private and should be paid back in due time - in December 2015.

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