Russian Finance Minister Siluanov expects to recover full amount of Ukraine's debt of $3 billion and legal expenses / Photo from fedpress.ru
Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov says Russia is open to talks with Ukraine on the debt, but it has not happened yet because of "Kyiv's refusal to compromise," according to Russian news agency TASS.
"Russia remains open to conscientious negotiations with Ukraine, but such talks have not yet been started due to the uncompromising position of Ukraine," the minister told journalists Friday, TASS wrote.
The Russian Finance Ministry expects to recover full amount of Ukraine's debt of $3 billion and legal expenses.
"We started the preparatory work for submitting the claim. We are confident that we will be able to recover the entire amount of the debt on eurobonds, as well as legal expenses," Siluanov said.
According to him, Moscow hopes Kyiv will recognize the official status of debt to Russia and expects better conditions than Ukraine had given to private creditors earlier.
"The Russian Finance Ministry confirms its full commitment to negotiate with the debtor. The success of these negotiations depends on the Ukrainian side being ready to recognize the official status of the debt and to offer better conditions than to commercial creditors earlier," Siluanov said.
Germany's Ministry of Finance acted as an informal intermediary in arranging debt negotiations with Ukraine but their start has not yet been agreed, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak in turn said on Friday.
"An informal exchange of opinions concerning the possibility of such talks took place with mediation of the Germany's Finance Ministry. However, negotiations start has not yet been agreed in view of the hardline position of Ukraine expressed in lack of desire to recognize the official debt status and offer conditions better than those offered to private lenders," Storchak said.