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KIEV/WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (PRIME) -- Ukraine is ready to show flexibility in negotiations over its U.S. $3 billion Eurobond debt to Russia with the lender, but can also litigate it, President Pyotr Poroshenko said at a news conference Thursday.
“The position of Ukraine concerning the restructuring must be the same as it was for other investors. Taking into account undertaken liabilities, Ukraine has no right to offer (other terms). At the same time, as the finance minister (Natalie Jaresko) clearly said, we show maximal openness and readiness to negotiations,” he said.
Poroshenko said he believes that the negations were postponed due to Russian actions. “If the Russian side is threatening with court actions – it is a right of each investor – we do not limit it and are ready to protect Ukrainian interests with the help of flexibility during negotiations and also in the courtroom,” he said.
He also said that attempts to involve U.S. and E.U. in the issue as guarantors “violate their requirements, in compliance with which the Ukrainian sovereign debt was restructured by other lenders.”
On December 30, Jaresko said that Kiev expects negotiations on restructuring of the debt to Russia to continue in January.
Jerry Reis, a representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said that the fund does not participate in Russia–Ukraine negotiations over the debt and has no formal contacts with Russian authorities on this issue, but nevertheless it will take into account a possible agreement between the countries when considering prolongation of aid to Kiev.
The IMF’s board of directors may consider providing further financial support to Ukraine soon, he also said.
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