Russia Hits Final Limit to Avoid Debt Default

Russia avoided defaulting on its public debt by making the necessary payments in U.S. dollars, Shortly before March 4. Payments of $650 million in international bonds have initially been due on April 4. The U.S. Treasury blocked Russia from making payments from frozen reserves with Western sanctions. This, in turn, increases the prospect of default. Russia offered to pay in rubles and then changed its policy last week. This decision is the newest in a long-running conflict with the U.S. Treasury over how Occupier can service its debts.

If Russia made payments only in rubles, it will count as unpaid; After a 30-day grace period from the initial payment date on April 4. However, on April 29, It announced that It would change course and pay off part of the dollar reserves, which were not in the West, and thus escaped sanctions. A U.S. official confirmed that payments happened. The country was forced to choose to deplete the remaining precious dollar reserves, Or between new income or default.

Russia and Sanctions

Russia has repaid debts using funds outside the U.S. or other partner jurisdictions. These precious reserves left Russia forever. Consequently, they can no longer go to Ukraine to finance their invasion. Payments went into the accounts of some investors.

A committee to determine credit derivatives in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa met on Tuesday; To consider whether Russia had paid its debts. Consequently, investors who purchased Credit Default Swaps, a non-payment insurance, could start making claims.

A statement on the website said payments had been made. The next stage of the process was postponed until the monitoring of the situation continued. The country has about $40 billion in international bonds still outstanding; It may be challenging to pay off debt after May 25, when U.S. Treasury provisions on debt interest and repayment terms expire. Default would be the first time Russia has failed to pay its public debt since 1998; the Economic crisis at the end of the term of the then President Yeltsin.

A government default would be a severe blow to Russia’s prestige. Russia is willing to spend valuable foreign exchange reserves on preventing this. Credit reference agencies, which typically decide if the country is in arrears, are forbidden to repay Russia’s debts with E.U. sanctions.