Ukraine meeting IMF's requirements - Shmyhal

Ukraine is meeting the requirements of the International Monetary Fund to get the funding, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, he said this at the Kyiv International Economic Forum on Thursday, October 7.

"The key question is whether Ukraine is fulfilling the key macroeconomic indicators. We fulfilled the budget last year, we are reducing the budget deficit this year, and we are reducing it for next year. These are key indicators," Shmyhal said.

He stressed that Ukraine is currently in constant and fruitful communication with the IMF. In addition, the Verkhovna Rada last summer passed 12 bills provided for in a memorandum with the IMF, Shmyhal said.

On June 9, 2020, the IMF approved a new 18-month Stand-By Arrangement for Ukraine worth about $5 billion with the immediate disbursement of $2.1 billion as the first tranche. The IMF completed a virtual mission to Ukraine for the first review of the SBA in mid-February without any recommendation about when to issue a next tranche.

Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko suggested that the 18-month SBA with the IMF could be extended for six months.

op