Russia’s External Debt

Pavel Trunin – Head of Center for Macroeconomics and Finance of the Gaidar Institute; Leading Research fellow of the Center for the Study of Central Banks, Institute for Applied Economic Studies, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Candidate of Economic Sciences. Е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In 2018 Russia continues to reduce, since the 2014–2015 crisis, its external debt. An additional factor contributing to the reduction of debt to non-residents is that non-residents have reduced their holdings of OFZ bonds over fears of new sanctions against Russia. Therefore the today’s level of external debt poses no threat to financial stability of the country.

Key words: Russia’s foreign debt, ruble’s exchange rate, capital outflow, sanctions against Russia, Bank of Russia.