Russia says Ukraine has until March 4 to counter lawsuit

Russia's Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak arrives at the G20 meeting during the spring International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank meetings in Washington April 20, 2012. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ukraine has until March 4 to respond to Russia's lawsuit on a $3 billion Eurobond debt, Russia's Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak said on Thursday.

"The key date is the first one - (March) 4 when the Ukrainians should respond to our claim," Storchak told journalists. "Then the court will have to set a hearing. We have presented our claim - and now (Ukraine) should counter in it in some way."

(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Jack Stubbs)