Moscow Could Seek Debt Repayment From Kiev Through Court – Ukrainian FM

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin claims that Russia could resolve the issue of Ukraine’s debt repayment through court.

KIEV (Sputnik) – Russia could resolve the issue of Ukraine’s debt repayment through court, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said.

"I hope that the process of claim consideration, that of Russia, in court, which is yet possible, will first of all last a certain amount of time, and second, the court will listen to the arguments of all parties, first of all our arguments, the way we handled the restructuring process," Klimkin said in a Wednesday interview with the Ukrainian 24 TV news channel.

The Ukrainian foreign minister added that Ukraine has experience with such cases and will be ready in case Russia turns to court to ensure the repayment of $3 billion that Ukraine owes it.

Earlier this month, the Russian Cabinet's press service said that it was Moscow's position that Ukraine must repay the debt it owes to Russia in full and on time, specifying that the deadline for repayment is this coming December.

The statement came shortly after Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk urged Moscow to join the international creditor committee, which has agreed to write off 20 percent, or $3.6 billion out of $18-billion, of Ukraine's external debt.

Russia issued a $15-billion loan to Ukraine in December, 2013, having bought $3 billion-worth of Ukraine's Eurobonds. The rest of the loan was cancelled following the regime change that took place in Ukraine in February, 2014.