Russian PM: Kiev won't repay debt because 'they are crooks'

He also said if Ukraine does not repay the $3 billion, Moscow would seek a declaration of default on all other Ukrainian debt to Russia.

"I have the sense that they won't pay it back because they're crooks," Medvedev said in an interview on state television when asked about Kiev's debt.

Asked about a decision by the International Monetary Fund to soften lending rules for countries that don't repay official debt, Medvedev said if the fund is not reformed soon, trust in it will be undermined.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly; writing by Christian Lowe; editing by Vladimir Soldatkin)