Vladimir Putin: why should we pay for all USSR republics?

Russia is not refusing to pay Soviet- era debts and is determined to stand by its commitments, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a Friday meeting with Austrian business representatives. In his opinion, Russia did not think well in the past "when it pledged to pay the debts of all republics of the former Soviet Union." "Why should we be paying for all republics of the USSR, tens of billions of dollars are in question," Putin said, Interfax reports. Nevertheless, Russia is paying and intends to stand by its commitments in the future, he said.