Shmyhal: Dismissal of Naftogaz CEO has not affected negotiations with creditors

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has said that the dismissal of Andriy Kobolev from the post of chairman of the Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine and the suspension of the Supervisory Board have not affected Ukraine's negotiations with international partners.

"Creditors and our partners may be affected by decisions that will break the principles of corporate reform, as well as other reforms implemented in Ukraine. We have not and are not going to break any principles of corporate reform," the prime minister said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

According to him, Western partners are more concerned about the continuation and completion of the reforms of justice and anti-corruption system – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention and other anti-corruption legislation. Shmyhal said that the third or fourth priority is the development of corporate governance reform, but in combination with large-scale privatization and other reforms.

"Western partners consider both Kobolev and Vitrenko as top managers-reformers. The literal phrase of our partners: the name does not matter," the prime minister said.

As reported, on April 28, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Andriy Kobolyev as CEO of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine and appointed Yuriy Vitrenko to replace him.

In 2020, Naftogaz Group’s net consolidated losses came to UAH 19 billion, while the company's financial plan approved by the Cabinet of Ministers provided for UAH 11.5 billion in profit.

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