You're reading: Medvedev: If Ukraine refuses to repay debts, Russia to assume tough position

MOSCOW. May 22 (Interfax) - If Kyiv decides not to repay its debts, Moscow is ready to assume a tough position in defending its interests, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

“The latest statement made by the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada and government is very controversial. They seem to be talking about private borrowings, but at the same time are hinting that they are not going to clear the Yanukovych government’s debts,” Medvedev said after asked to comment on Kyiv’s decision on possibly imposing a moratorium on the repayment of sovereign debts in an interview hosted by Sergei Brilyov to be shown on Russian TV on Saturday.

“This looks in essence like the Bolsheviks’ refusal to pay the czarist government’s debts,” he said.”If this is really formalized this way, this certainly means Ukraine’s default and will certainly affect the process of their agreements with the International Monetary Fund. We will assume the toughest possible position and will be defending our national interests in this case,” Medvedev said.