Russia filing lawsuit against Ukraine over debt default

The Russian Finance Ministry is filing a lawsuit against Ukraine for Kiev’s failure to pay off its USD 3-billion debt to Moscow by the end of December 2015.

The Russian ministry said on its website late on Thursday that it is suing Kiev as it is “in a state of default” regarding its obligations toward Moscow.

"A corresponding lawsuit will be filed in an English court in compliance with the established procedures," the ministry added.

The Russian Finance Ministry, however, stressed that Moscow will still be willing to work with Kiev to solve the problem, even after the lawsuit is filed.

The lawsuit comes upon an order by President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine’s debt to Russia goes back to 2013 when Putin loaned USD 3 billion to the former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych before the collapse of his government. The debt was supposed to be repaid by December 20, 2015.


[link to presstv.com]