(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The IMF is ready to resume close cooperation with Ukraine after the parliamentary elections are held and the new government is appointed. Currently, the IMF mission continues to hold "constructive" negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv.
IMF Communications Department Director Gerry Rice made a corresponding statement on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"The mission [of the IMF] is currently in Kyiv. They conduct constructive discussions with the authorities regarding the latest developments, as well as the economic policy," Rice said.
When asked to outline the prospects for further cooperation, the IMF spokesperson noted that the Fund was waiting for the appointment of the new government of Ukraine.
"As soon as the new government is formed after [snap parliamentary] elections, we are ready to return to the discussion of our further cooperation with Ukraine," Rice said.
At the same time, he did not comment on the question of whether the decision on the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the resignation of the government jeopardizes the current Stand-By Arrangement for Ukraine.
"We do not comment on political changes in any country, so I will not comment on this in context of Ukraine," Rice said. In this regard, he again emphasized that the IMF would be ready to return to cooperation with Ukraine after the formation of the new government, stressing that "the IMF has maintained a close partnership with Ukraine over the past few years."
Rice also reminded that IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde had written Volodymyr Zelensky to congratulate him on election victory. "She emphasized that the IMF continues to be willing to provide assistance," the IMF spokesperson said.
As reported, the IMF's review mission on Stand-By Arrangement started to work in Ukraine on Tuesday, May 21. The SBA was approved on December 19, 2019. The amount of the 14-month program is equivalent to SDR 2.8 billion (about USD 3.9 billion). SDR 1 billion (about USD 1.4 billion) was provided immediately, while the remaining funds should be disbursed based on the results of semi-annual arrangement revisions in 2019.
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