Russia would adopt a tough position if Ukraine decided not to pay off debts owed by its previous government, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview broadcast by Russian TV on Saturday, May 23.

"If it is actually formulated in this way this would undoubtedly be a default of Ukraine ... We would adopt as tough a position as possible in this case and defend our national interests," Medvedev told the Vesti on state TV channel Rossiya, according to Reuters.

Medvedev also said his government had an interest in seeing a predictable rate for the ruble, but he defended the central bank's policy of allowing the rouble to float, saying it was "optimal" to achieve a balance in the forex market between supply and demand.