Ukraines økonomiske problemer er voldsomme. To store rating-agenturer, S&P samt Fitch, har nedjusteret Ukraines kreditrating kraftigt, fordi de tvivler på holdbarheden af den gælds-restrukturering, som udenlandske kreditorer har indgået en aftale med Ukraine om. Aftalen giver Ukraine en to-årig frist for tilbagebetalinger på 20 milliarder dollar obligationer. Ukraine står over for en økonomisk nedtur på 35-45 pct., ligesom landet mangler 5 milliarder dollar om måneden for at klare sine interne forpligtelser.
S&P, Fitch lower Ukraine’s foreign currency rating
Global rating agencies S&P and Fitch on Friday lowered Ukraine’s foreign currency ratings, saying they consider the country’s debt restructuring as distressed.
Earlier this week, Ukraine’s overseas creditors backed the country’s request for a two-year freeze on payments on almost $20 billion in international bonds, according to a regulatory filing, allowing the war-ravaged country to avoid a messy debt default.
S&P lowered Ukraine’s foreign currency rating to “SD/SD” from “CC/C.
“Given the announced terms and conditions of the restructuring, and in line with our criteria, we view the transaction as distressed and tantamount to default,” the ratings agency said.
Fitch downgraded the country’s long-term foreign currency to “RD” from “C”, as it deems the deferral of debt payments as a completion of a distressed debt-exchange.
S&P also said the macroeconomic and fiscal stress stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may weaken the Ukrainian government’s ability to stay current on its local currency debt and lowered the eastern European country’s local currency rating to “CCC+/C” from “B-/B”.
Battered by the war launched on Feb. 24, Ukraine faces a 35%-45% economic contraction in 2022 and a monthly fiscal shortfall of $5 billion.
