Report: Russia in Historic Foreign Debt Default

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    The Facts

    • In a historic move, Russia has defaulted on its foreign debt obligations, according to some bondholders. Official confirmation is expected from bond rating agencies.

    • After a 30-day grace period expired on Sun., Russia allegedly missed the deadline to repay its interest of $100M on two Eurobonds. The default was seen as largely inevitable after the US Treasury Dept.'s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it wouldn't renew a license allowing Russia to repay debt in US dollars on May 25.


    The Spin

    Anti-Russia narrative

    Even if Russia moved the money to some escrow account as it claims, the obligations of the bonds aren't met until the funds have been released and bondholders confirm receipt. Russia cannot claim it had no other choice – it chose to wage its invasion into Ukraine and hasn't backed down in the face of sanctions.

    Pro-Russia narrative

    Russia's foreign debts amount to $57B, but it has foreign reserves of nearly $600B. America and the EU are putting up false barriers to prevent Russia from repaying its loan obligations, which is giving the appearance of a default. Anyone who looks can see this isn't a default at all.


    Metaculus Prediction


    Establishment split

    CRITICAL

    PRO

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