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 2013 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. Russia's finance ministry is preparing a "concrete plan of actions" in case of a default, which includes taking Ukraine to court on the bond, said Siluanov. As we have previously noted, the bond, which Russia bought from former President Viktor Yanukovych in yesterday, remains a wildcard in Ukraine's debt overhaul, needed to keep an IMF-led bailout on track and help lift the country from recession.