“We have the money and we are ready to pay it, either in roubles or according to a scheme that may be more convenient for bondholders,” he told reporters.

The senior Russian official stressed that the practice of paying for Russian gas in roubles proved its convenience for both sellers and buyers, under the current conditions, so such a mechanism could also be used to repay the country’s foreign debt.

Asked whether Russian bondholders would accept coupon payments in roubles, or whether they would prefer to declare the non-payment by Russia, Peskov replied that the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies of the country began talks to discuss this issue.

Earlier on Monday, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told Vedomosti newspaper that the country plans to pay domestic bondholders through a mechanism similar to the one implemented in connection with Russian gas supplies.

Earlier last week, the US Department of the Treasury reported that it will not renew the sanctions waiver to process Russia’s foreign debt payments as of May 25.

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