IMF mission to return mid-week to renew discussions on loan

A release from the International Monetary Fund’s office in Kyiv on Friday indicated that an IMF mission led by Ceyla Pazarbasioglu will return to Ukraine during the middle of this week to renew discussions on the review of the USD 16.5 bln standby loan arrangement. Ukraine’s parliament has already approved two out of the five laws required by the IMF to restart talks (see our news from April 1). The IMF said it has received assurances from the president and prime minister about their intention to obtain parliamentary approval for the remaining laws on the pension fund, Naftogaz of Ukraine, and laws coordinated with the IMF and World Bank on the restructuring of the financial sector during the week of April 13-17. The disbursal of the second USD 1.85 bln tranche of the standby loan to Ukraine hinges on the outcome of the discussions.