WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) continues to encourage Russia and Ukraine to discuss possible ways to restructure Kiev’s outstanding $3 billion debt to Moscow, IMF Communications Director Gerry Rice said in a briefing on Thursday.
“We continue to encourage both sides to engage in constructive discussions on restructuring of this bond to provide the necessary financing for the program and help restore debt sustainability,” Rice said.
On October 15, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Kiev had suggested to Moscow to accept restructuring of the $3 billion debt, which Russia had purchased in Eurobonds in December 2013.
However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Nebenzya has previously argued that Moscow does not have any plans of discussing Ukraine’s outstanding debt.
Ukraine’s debt amounts to $70 billion, of which some $40 billion the country owes to international money lenders.