Russia is threatening to repay a $2 billion foreign currency bond in rubles due in April. This was announced by the Russian Ministry of Finance on Tuesday. The ministry left open what measures it could take if the creditors rejected the offer. Investors could submit applications to sell their bonds to the National Settlement Depository until Wednesday afternoon, it said. The ministry’s offer of April 4 bonds, Russia’s biggest debt payment this year, follows the tightening of Western sanctions over Ukraine’s invasion. According to the government in Moscow, these are tantamount to an “economic war”. In response, the presidential office has already required foreign companies to pay for Russian gas in rubles instead of dollars or euros. It was not immediately clear whether bondholders would be forced to accept rubles.
Billion dollar loan – Moscow is considering repayment in rubles – Economy
