Medvedev: Russia’s reputation won’t be affected by Washington’s attempts to block its debt payments

Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has stressed that the US attempts to impeded Russia’s payment of its debts will not affect Russia’s financial reputation.

“A possible ban on Russia to impede the process of paying its debts in foreign currency will not affect its real financial reputation as Russia is able to pay all its financial commitments in any currency,” Medvedev said on his Telegram channel.

Medvedev’ remarks came in response to Washington’s intention to fully block Russian bond payments to US investors after a deadline expires next week.

 The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is expected to let a temporary exemption lapse once it expires on May 25.

Such US procedures create technical obstacles in the face of the fulfillment of the obligations, which must be regarded by the court as a forcible measure or a sinful behavior by the creditor, Medvedev added.

On Wednesday, Russia’s Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Russia will service its external debt obligations in rubles if the United States blocks other options and will not call itself in default.

Hamda Mustafa