IMF names two goals of cooperation with Ukraine

Cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF is aimed at achieving the best interests of the Ukrainian economy, raising the living standards of Ukrainians and has nothing to do with the election statements of some politicians, which cast doubt on the expediency of the IMF's programs for Ukraine.

Director of the IMF Communications Department Gerry Rice said this while answering a question from an Ukrinform correspondent regarding statements made by some candidates and parties in the run-up the presidential election in Ukraine that cooperation with the IMF allegedly does not meet national interests.

"The bottom line in terms of our cooperation is to get Ukraine on the path of sustainable growth and improve people's living standards. I mean that's the bottom line. That's the aim of the cooperation," he said.

He also said that "we don't do politics, we do the economics."

"So our focus is on what is in the best interest of the country's economy and to benefit the people of that country so we work with all complexions of government and political systems and we try to stay focused on the economics," Rice said.

In this regard, he noted that in such cases, the IMF works "with all complexions of government and political systems and we try to stay focused on the economics."

Rice also noted that cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF had been successful for the last few years.

In addition, he recalled that a few weeks ago, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde and her first deputy, David Lipton, met with President Petro Poroshenko in Davos.

"We again reiterated our support for Ukraine along with other international partners," he said.

Rice also stressed the need for Ukraine to accelerate the reforms.