Marchenko: Ukraine is interested in continuing the IMF program for six months

Photo Ukrinform

The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine is interested in continuing the program with the IMF for another six months. Now there are corresponding discussions with the Fund.

The Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, UA reports.

The minister confirmed that the Ukrainian side, as the National Bank of Ukraine said, initiated the expansion and continuation of the program.

“The decision must be made by the Fund. We are interested in continuing the program for six months. We have included in the draft state budget funds from the IMF for the next year, and we would like to fulfill the entire program and receive all tranches under it” – the minister said.

Regarding the next revision of the program following the results of the work of the IMF mission, Marchenko could not clarify the timing of the presentation of the Ukrainian issue to the meeting of the Fund’s board of directors.

“We are having quite productive discussions within the mission. I’m not ready to comment yet. I would like the mission to have a logical conclusion, so that we reach a staff level agreement” – he said.

To remind, on September 30, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine redeemed the third and last issue of external government loan bonds under the US guarantee. The total amount of the payment is more than USD 1 billion, including USD 1 billion in redemption of Eurobonds, and USD 7.355 million in interest payments.

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