Zelenskyi's Office expects that cooperation with IMF will continue
Ukraine expects to continue cooperation with the International Monetary Fund.
Oleh Ustenko, an economic adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, stated this on Radio NV, Ukrinform reports.
According to him, currently, there are no reasons for concern due to the IMF's statements on cooperation with Ukraine.
"I don't see any serious problems. I don't think we need to start worrying immediately about the IMF's statements; it's definitely not worth it. First, we expect cooperation to continue. Second, the country is on a recovery trajectory this year," Ustenko said.
The only "bottleneck" in Ukraine's talks with the IMF, he said, is "restoring Ukraine's anti-corruption architecture."
The presidential adviser also added that IMF representatives were currently negotiating with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Bank. These negotiations are related "to legal aspects, not to the economy as a whole."
As reported, on February 13, the IMF announced the completion of the mission to review the stand-by program.
According to IMF Permanent Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman, from December 21 to 23 and from January 11 to February 12, IMF experts discussed progress in implementing measures and reforms with the Ukrainian authorities, which are part of the government's stand-by action program. In particular, the parties discussed strengthening the governance of the National Bank, improving the legislative and regulatory framework for banking supervision and financial recovery, measures to reduce the fiscal deficit in the medium term, and drafts laws to restore and strengthen anti-corruption infrastructure and justice and measures in the energy sector.
"The discussion has been productive, but we need more progress to complete the first review of the program. Discussions will continue," Goesta Ljungman said.
