Ukraine

KYIV. April 1 (Interfax) - The National Bank of Ukraine's international reserves rose 4.1% in March to $25.125 billion, the head of the group of advisers to the NBU chairman, Valery Litvitsky, said at a press conference on Thursday.

However, the international reserves shrank 5.2% in the first quarter, from $26.505 billion at the beginning of the year.

"We are purchasing [foreign currency on the exchange], because we want to support an adequate amount of hryvnia offers - adequate in the phase of warming up the economy. We are purchasing in order to replenish currency reserves," he said, adding that the NBU is not buying up foreign currency in order to fix the hryvnia exchange rate.