Russia, Ukraine Lurch Toward Court Battle Over Bond Dispute
- Russia may seek Ukraine default on all debt, Medvedev says
- Prime minister calls IMF policy change politically biased
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Russia’s dispute with Ukraine lurched closer to a court battle after the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev accused the government in Kiev of being ready to cheat his country over a $3 billion bond maturing this month.
Calling Ukrainian officials “swindlers,” Medvedev accused the International Monetary Fund of hindering his government’s ability to get its money back after the lender changed its policy on Tuesday to let it keep giving Ukraine bail-out aid even if it defaults. He stepped up threats to pursue legal action against the government in Kiev, while his counterpart Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Ukraine is “fully armed” and ready to go to court.