President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian government to wait until a new Ukrainian government is formed before fulfilling Moscow's agreement to provide a $15 billion economic rescue package to Kyiv.
Putin emphasized, however, that Russia still intends to honor its loan pledges and gas-discount deals to Ukraine.
Under its loan pledge, Russia has already invested $3 billion in Ukrainian eurobonds to help ease Ukraine's debt crisis.
On January 28, Putin suggested during a European Union summit in Brussels that Russia would not review the loan agreement even if Ukrainian opposition figures came to power in a new government.
The government of Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned later the same day, following weeks of mass protests against a decision to reject EU cooperation agreements and instead pursue strengthened ties with Russia.
Putin emphasized, however, that Russia still intends to honor its loan pledges and gas-discount deals to Ukraine.
Under its loan pledge, Russia has already invested $3 billion in Ukrainian eurobonds to help ease Ukraine's debt crisis.
On January 28, Putin suggested during a European Union summit in Brussels that Russia would not review the loan agreement even if Ukrainian opposition figures came to power in a new government.
The government of Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned later the same day, following weeks of mass protests against a decision to reject EU cooperation agreements and instead pursue strengthened ties with Russia.
!["[The local authorities] don't look favorably on me. I know all these people's tricks," says Bulgarian journalist Ivan Atanasov. (file photo)](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-3538-08db25627f77_cx0_cy6_cw0_w100_r1.jpg)
!["[The local authorities] don't look favorably on me. I know all these people's tricks," says Bulgarian journalist Ivan Atanasov. (file photo)](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-3538-08db25627f77_cx0_cy6_cw0_w33_r1.jpg)
