You're reading: Negotiations on Ukraine’s debt possible only if recognized as sovereign, Russia says

A date has still not been set for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian finance ministers in Germany to discuss problems of Ukraine’s debt to Russia on a $3 billion Eurobond, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told journalists on Tuesday.

“Right now a discussion is underway, but there is no decision yet,” he said.

The minister again confirmed Russia’s principle position, that negotiations about restructuring are possible only on the condition that Ukraine’s debt is recognized as sovereign and not commercial.

“We will negotiate only after we see there are grounds for negotiations, namely that the debt is recognized as sovereign and that the terms for restructuring are better than commercial ones,” Siluanov said.

“There is no point in it,” he said when asked whether a meeting was possible without the debt being recognized as sovereign.