According to the Federal Treasury, in 2019, the amount returned by foreign governments exceeded the new loans issued: RUR 250 bln ($4 bln) against RUR 215 bln ($3.4 bln). The last time Russia had a positive international lending balance was in 2010, when foreign governments returned RUR 53 bln ($843 mio), while Russia lent RUR 14 bln ($223 mio).
Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak explains the increase in repayments by the payment deadlines reached for several states at once. A number of countries owe Russia about $35 bln in unpaid loans. Another reason could be tighter requirements for borrowers due to the aggravation of the geopolitical situation.