WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) board has recognized Kiev’s outstanding $3 billion debt to Moscow as official, an IMF official told RIA Novosti.
“The IMF board of directors recognized the status of Ukraine’s $3-billion debt to Russia as sovereign,” the official said on Wednesday.
Ukraine owes Russia $3 billion in Eurobonds. The debt was secured by the government of then-President Viktor Yanukovych in late 2013. Moscow has repeatedly stated that Kiev's inability to pay back the debt by December 20 will mean a default.
On Tuesday, Ukraine's Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said that Kiev and Moscow were still in talks, brokered by mediators from Germany, on the issue of the settlement of Ukraine's debt.