DAVOS, January 22. /TASS/. Germany helps Ukraine in organizing negotiations with Russia on its $3 bln debt, Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko told journalists on Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"We are always open to talks with Russia on a debt restructuring. I'm talking with our friends and partners in Germany," she said.
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According to Jaresko, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has helped to organize a meeting with the Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on October 12 in Lima, Peru, on the sidelines of the IMF meetings and participated in it.
The minister said she regretted that the Russian delegation was unable to meet with the Ukrainian delegation in Davos, but admitted that the meeting will take place in the near future and could be held in Berlin. At the same time, Jaresko said that Ukraine is open to talks with Russia on a debt restructuring. However, she added that Russia’s terms should not be better than those for private creditors.
In December 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych reached an agreement that Moscow would extend a $15 billion loan to Kiev through placing Ukrainian securities. Under the deal, $3 billion worth of bonds were listed on the Irish Stock Exchange on December 20, 2013 and bought by Russia from its National Welfare Fund.
In November 2015, Putin said Russia was ready to restructure Ukraine’s debt in case the United States, the European Union or any big international financial institute gave its guarantees to Russia. No guarantees were granted.
On December 17, the IMF board recognized the official status of Russia’s loan to Ukraine.