Ukraine's Debt Continues To Decline.

In January-February, Ukraine’s total debt fell by 0.51% to USD 19.2 bln as of February 28, 2006. During the same period Ukraine’s direct foreign debt dropped 0.46% to USD 8.7 bln while direct domestic debt decreased by 0.89% to USD 3.8 bln. Concorde Capital: The 2M06 reduction in foreign debt was due to scheduled payments on loans to to World Bank and EBRD. Domestic debt continued to decline because Ukraine’s government has not made domestic bond placement since August, 2005. The total public debt/GDP ratio is expected to reach 15.8% by the end of 2006 (18.9% in 2005). The low leverage of the national economy provides the government with plenty of breathing room to assume debt for its infrastructural programs or cover the budget deficit