Zelensky doesn’t want reject cooperation with IMF

"Can a person live without water for a week? But why would one do that? The same can be said about the situation with the IMF. Why would we take such risks and bring the situation to default, why would we need all these trials? We already have too many," Zelensky said during the talk show “Freedom of Speech by Savik Shuster”.

The President noted that such support was important for Ukraine.

"If it was at other times, if it was quiet, we could think whether it is profitable to us or not. Now it is like blood for a human body... We have agreed [that Ukraine will get] at least $8 billion from the IMF plus the [disbursement from the] World Bank," the President said, noting that Ukraine could get $10 billion together with the assistance from the IMF, the World Bank and the EU, thought expects to get $8 billion at least.

In addition, he noted that he had daily conversations with leaders of other countries, such as the UAE, Canada, Azerbaijan and assured that "we will have more money."

At the same time, Zelensky stressed that cooperation with the IMF was a signal for all of them. "All of them are focused on only one issue. They say: if there is [a continued cooperation of Ukraine with the IMF], we will support you. This includes humanitarian aid, preferential credits to support the economy of Ukraine. It depends on the signal. The signal is the only one for them – a memorandum with the International Monetary Fund. It is about trust in Ukraine," the Head of State emphasized.

However, he noted that the IMF put forward a number of conditions, including the land market reform, the law on which was already passed, and the law on banks, which still needs to be adopted.

ol