Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, on Saturday held a conversation with the governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), Andriy Pyshnyi, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Finance Olga Zykova, and on Sunday, from the IMF and World Bank Group’s annual meetings, once again reaffirmed support for Ukraine.
IMF support and call to continue reforms
“We once again reaffirmed the IMF’s steadfast support for Ukraine, as well as the importance of continuing reforms and international support to ensure stability and economic growth,” — wrote Georgieva.
The meeting took place within the framework of the IMF and World Bank Group annual meetings; according to participants, the conversation covered current challenges and next steps on reforms.
Ukraine’s priorities for the reviews of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme
“The Ukrainian delegation, comprising the NBU and the Ministry of Finance, had a lengthy, candid discussion. There are many issues, and each requires concrete decisions,” — wrote Pyshnyi.
According to him, the immediate priority is to demonstrate positive results by the end of the year during the combined second and third reviews of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, and to secure reliable and predictable financing for 2027 well in advance.
Conditions from partners and legislative steps for financing
The Director of the IMF’s European Department, Mateusz Szczurek, noted that “We plan to carry out the second and third reviews of the programme by the end of the current year. Of course, this depends on the resumption of reforms, as well as on partners providing financing guarantees,” he said.
Szczurek also emphasised the need to adopt laws and measures in the areas of revenue mobilisation and public administration to ensure continued donor financing starting from 2026. In confirming external financing, the terms on which it is provided play an important role so as not to undermine debt sustainability given the already significant level of debt.
