MOSCOW, Oct 13 (Reuters) - If Ukraine fails to pay off a $3 billion Eurobond in December Russia will consider this a default, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Tuesday. Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; writing by Katya Golubkova, editing by Jason Bush
Russian Finance Minister, Anton Siluanov, is increasing its pressure on Ukraine with his announcement yesterday that Russia will consider it a default if Ukraine fails to pay off a $3bn eurobond in December, and has called on the International Monetary Fund to help Ukraine repay the bond. The IMF said today that Ukraine's debt was not sustainable, but added that there were no plans for any further aid from Moscow. As we have previously noted, the bond, which Russia bought from former President Viktor Yanukovych in 2013, remains a wildcard in Ukraine's debt overhaul, needed to keep an IMF-led bailout on track and help lift the country from recession.