You're reading: EU hopes IMF will help Ukraine pay for Russian gas – Chizhov

MOSCOW - There is no clear position within the European Union over whether it is prepared to help Ukraine repay its debt to Russia for natural gas supplies, said Russia's Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov.

“Currently, the position of the European Commission (EC) – and it is the EC that acts as our partner in this dialog – reflects the understanding of the seriousness of the situation and, secondly, the need to work out a balanced decision that takes into account the legitimate interests, Russia’s including,” Chizhov said on the Rossiya-24 television channel.

On Oct. 21 Brussels is hosting another ministerial round of talks involving Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Ukrainian Minister Yuriy Prodan, Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy executives, mediated by EC Vice President for Energy Gunther Oettinger.

Asked about the possibility of an EU loan to fund Ukraine’s debt for Russian gas, Chizhov said: “Speaking of the EU, the degree of its readiness is proportionate to the presence of cash. As they say, there is never too much money in the EU purse. Small sums, incomparably greater than all Ukrainian needs, be it for the gas, for Donbas reconstruction, re-launch of the economy – I want to say that much bigger sums have been spent in recent months and years to rescue Eurozone countries, in particular, Greece, Portugal and Ireland,” he said.

Chizhov thinks that “while offering their shoulder (of support), the Europeans are looking to the IMF, the World Bank in the hope that it is from there that this money will come from.”

“This money is indeed being received by Ukraine. And one of the conditions for these tranches to be provided by the IMF is precisely to resolve the issue of repaying gas debt (to Russia) and on the terms proposed by Russia. In this instance, one could say that the IMF is on our side,” Chizhov said.