WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 - The International Monetary Fund is expected to soon discuss reforms to lending rules that would allow continued support for Ukraine even if it misses payments on a $3 billion debt to Russia, Reuters reported.

An IMF spokesman said on Thursday the Fund's board was expected to debate in the "near future" a possible move to overturn a ban on the IMF supporting countries if they fail to repay official creditors, or sovereign states.