IMF No Longer Asking Kiev to Raise Gas Prices as Condition for Loan - Presidential Envoy
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is no longer asking Kiev to raise gas prices as a condition for a new loan tranche, the Ukrainian presidential representative in the government, Andriy Gerus, said Wednesday
KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is no longer asking Kiev to raise gas prices as a condition for a new loan tranche, the Ukrainian presidential representative in the government, Andriy Gerus, said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman met with the IMF delegation to discuss bilateral cooperation.
"At the moment, the IMF does not have any new demands or claims over gas prices.
This item set out in the memorandum has been done. This is no obstacle to the next tranche," Gerus told reporters, as aired on 112 Ukraina.
In December 2018, the IMF Executive board approved a $3.9 billion stand-by program for Ukraine for a period of 14 months on the condition that Kiev raise its heavily subsidized gas prices to global market levels. The country subsequently upped prices by over 20 percent, which led to widespread public discontent. The next increase was scheduled for May.