MOSCOW (Sputnik) — By announcing moratorium on repayment of a $3 billion sovereign debt to Russia, Ukraine has officially recognized its default and leaves Moscow with no option but to file a lawsuit in an international court, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
"With the announcement of the moratorium, the Ukrainian side has practically recognized its default on repayment of a sovereign debt," Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
Ukraine owes Russia $3 billion in Eurobonds. The debt was secured by the government of then-President Viktor Yanukovych in late 2013.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said earlier on Friday that the government introduced a moratorium on the repayment of Ukraine's $3-billion loan to Russia and was ready to go to court over the matter.