Russia bails on Cyprus as deadline looms

Cyprus was hoping close business ties with Russia could lead to more financial aid

LONDON (CNNMoney)

Talks between Russian officials and the government of Cyprus broke up early Friday, with no agreement on a cash infusion that could have helped the tiny island nation to secure an EU bailout.

Russian investors were ultimately not interested in the plans proposed by the Cypriot finance minister during a trip to Moscow, Russia's finance minister said Friday, according to state run news agency RIA Novosti.

One proposal was for Russian investors to develop the country's natural gas reserves. But the Russians will stand aside while Cyprus tries to find a way to recapitalize its insolvent banks with help from the so-called troika of European Central Bank, European Commission and International Monetary Fund.

Another way Russia could contribute is by relaxing the terms of an existing €2.5 billion loan to Cyprus.

"We're waiting for a decision by the troika, based on which we will react and make a decision on our participation in the debt restructuring," Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said.

Related: Why Russia is irate about the Cyprus bank tax

Cyprus is racing against the clock to secure a €10 billion bailout from the European Union to avoid financial collapse.

The island nation's banks are being kept afloat by emergency funding from the ECB, but that will end on Tuesday without a deal.

The fear is a full-on run on Cyprus' banks -- a development that could ultimately threaten the country's membership in the eurozone.

Officials have been scrambling to find ways to raise €5.8 billion since the country's parliament threw out an unprecedented plan to tax bank deposits earlier this week. Without the money, Cyprus can't access the rescue offered by the EU, and two of its biggest banks are likely to fail.

--CNN's Alla Eshchenko in Moscow contributed to this report.

First Published: March 22, 2013: 6:01 AM ET

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