MOSCOW, December 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s purchase of $3 billion worth of two-year Ukrainian Eurobonds with a coupon rate of 5% per year will likely to be finalized Friday, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak said.

“Finalizing the deal means closing the book,” he added.

On December 17, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Russia would allot Ukraine an amount of $3 billion via the Russian National Wealth Fund’s (NWF) placement in Ukrainian Eurobonds under the English law on the Irish Stock Exchange.

Siluanov specified Russia would continue buying Ukrainian Eurobonds next year, as “this remains acceptable and complies with the effective legislation”. He added Russia was buying the ready issue that had been stipulated in the budget.

Siluanov expressed confidence that despite Ukraine’s low credit ratings, the purchase would benefit both Russian and Ukrainian economies.

“We are investing in improving trade turnover and the Ukrainian economy,” having slightly modified the NWF investment policy, he said.