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Russia won’t write off Ukraine’s debt, will demand payment full — finance minister

Three billion dollars that we have granted from the National Welfare Fund should be returned to Russia by the end of this year

© ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin

MOSCOW, September 7. / TASS /. Ukraine should pay its debt to Russia in full, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Monday.

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Moscow will not join the club of the creditors who decided to write off part of Kiev’s debt.

"Russia’s debt is a sovereign one. As for sovereign debts there is a special procedure to settle such cases. We will not enter into negotiations with the Ukrainian government on this matter,"Siluanov said.

According to the finance minister, Russia has repeatedly stated its stance on this issue.

"We believe that sovereign debts should be paid in full at the appropriate time. Three billion dollars that we have granted from the National Welfare Fund should be returned to Russia by the end of this year. We have the funds on infrastructure and important project for Russia We really need the money, especially in the present circumstances, when the availability of Russian companies in the international financial markets is limited. Therefore, we will demand that our colleagues and partners should return the full amount of the debt in compliance with the schedule," Siluanov said.

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