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Russia may buy bonds isssued by the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), set up last year to prop up economies of troubled European Union states, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on Tuesday.

“We do not know terms of the securities issue, but we believe that it will be an attractive instrument with a status which will interest us,” Kudrin said.

The EFSF plans to offer three issues of 5 to 10 year bonds worth 3 to 5 billion euros each this year. The debut issue may take place at the end of January and another issue may be offered in the first half of 2011.

Ireland, which is to get a total of 17.7 billion euros from the EFSF within two years, will become one of the first recipients of funds, raised from the issues. China and Japan have said they will buy the bonds.

MOSCOW, January 18 (RIA Novosti)