IMF mission to return to Ukraine on Nov. 14

Ukraine’s cabinet and central bank will continue
discussions on a new IMF loan program in Kyiv with its mission led by Ron van Rooden
as soon as Nov. 14, Finance Minister Oksana Markarova wrote in her blog on Nov.
12. She offered no other details of the upcoming talks. Recall, the IMF is
discussing a new support program with Ukraine for a total amount of USD 5-6
bln. The last visit of the IMF mission in late September didn’t result
in a loan agreement.

Alexander Paraschiy: This is
long-awaited and encouraging news. Prospects for a loan agreement are bolstered
by parliament’s plan to approve the 2020 state budget this week. At the same
time, the discussion of other issues do not promise to go smoothly, including
the fight againat corruption, the situation with Privatbank and NPLs of other
state banks, the central bank’s independence and Ukraine’s energy policy.

Nonetheless, we remain certain that a new IMF loan
program will be initiated in December 2019 and Ukraine will be able to get the
first loan tranche in late 2019 or early 2020.