Russia says it will transfer payment for its purchase of $3 billion worth of Ukraine's Eurobonds on December 24.



Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made the announcement on December 23 at a news conference in Moscow.



The payment is part of a deal agreed between Russia and Ukraine last week under which Kyiv will receive $15 billion from Russia in exchange for Ukrainian government-issued bonds.



Ukraine needs $10 billion to keep its economy afloat.



Russia last week offered the bailout deal as well as a one-third reduction in the price of natural gas it sells Ukraine in a move seen as an attempt to keep Kyiv in its sphere of influence and woo it away from the European Union.



Meanwhile, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said that Russia can demand that the Ukrainian government repay the loan "at any time."



Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS