Russia To Adopt 'Tough' Position If Ukraine Defaults
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says Russia would adopt he calls a tough position if Ukraine decides not to repay debts owed by its previous government.
Speaking to Russian TV in an interview broadcast May 23, Medvedev says if Ukraine were to default on its obligations, Russia would "defend its national interests."
Earlier this week, Ukraine's parliament approved a law that would give the government the right to miss payments to its international creditors as it renegotiates payment terms.
Russia holds a $3 billion Ukrainian eurobond whose full repayment is due by the end of the year.
Medvedev also says the Russian government was right to allow its currency, the ruble, to float and that it was "optimal" to achieve a balance in the foreign-currency market.
The ruble has lost about a third of its value with respect to the U.S. dollar in the past year.
Based on reporting by Reuters
One Ukrainian Serviceman Killed, Five Wounded In Separatist East
A Ukrainian military spokesman says one Ukrainian serviceman has been killed and five wounded in clashes between government forces and Russian-backed separatists over the past 24 hours.
It was not immediately clear from the report where the serviceman died and under what circumstances.
The casualties occurred despite a cease-fire agreement negotiated in mid-February.
Meanwhile, TASS reports that the Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic registered 27 cease-fire violations by the Ukrainian military in the past day.
The figures could not be independently confirmed.
Violence has lessened significantly since the cease-fire was declared, but both sides accuse the other of violations and casualties are reported almost daily.