Economics

Ukraine Downgraded by S&P as Default Becomes ‘Virtual Certainty’

  • Nation was cut to CC from CCC+ on Friday by S&P on debt plans
  • Ukraine asked its foreign creditors to defer payments on debt
Ukraine's Fight to Rebuild in Face of Unrelenting War
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Ukraine had its credit grade cut by S&P Global Ratings after the war-ravaged nation asked foreign creditors for permission to delay payments on its external debt after Russia’s invasion.

The country was downgraded to CC from CCC+ on Friday by S&P, which kept a negative outlook given the high probability that officials move forward with plans to restructure its foreign debt. The rating could be cut again by S&P to selective default if the government in Kyiv gets bondholders to agree to a two-year payment freeze and changes to coupons on its so-called GDP warrants by the middle of next month.