Ukraine has to return $9 billion to cover its external debt in 2013, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

"In 2013 the Ukrainian government has to return around $9 billion to cover external debts," the premier said at a meeting of the government on Friday.

Azarov noted that the lion's share of the debt is $6 billion of loan liabilities to the International Monetary Fund undertaken in 2008-2009.