REUTERS
Russian VTB Group estimates its total losses due to the situation in Ukraine at RUB 85.4 billion ($1.36 billion), First Deputy President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board Yuri Soloviev said in an interview with Kommersant.
Soloviev said that Ukrainian sanctions were more stringent than the European ones.
"We estimate the total losses of VTB Group over the situation in Ukraine at RUB 85.4 billion. Unfortunately, we continue to be under pressure there. Ukraine has imposed sanctions against Russian banks. Moreover, these sanctions are tougher than the European ones. Today, we are almost banned from recapitalizing our Ukrainian banks. As a result, we actually have to give up on the Ukrainian BM Bank," Soloviev said.
Read alsoSale of Russian VTB's Ukrainian subsidiary fails – mediaAt the same time, he expressed hope that the fate of the group's Ukrainian banks would be resolved on the horizon of the strategy, which is now being drafted.
"We wanted to sell our VTB Ukraine bank, and we had actual buyers. But we did not reach an agreement with any of them. In Ukraine, we have a capital in the form of inter-bank loans, and we would like to fully withdraw it. But there is a little free capital in Ukraine now, and potential buyers were interested in us fully or partially leaving these inter-bank loans, but we are not ready for this," Soloviev said.