Ukrainian delegation holds talks with IMF, World Bank in Washington
MOSCOW. Sept 1 (Interfax) - A Ukrainian delegation, which was led by Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Chernyshov and included the government's representative on sovereign debt management Yuriy Butsa, who also heads the interagency group that coordinates negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), held talks with the IMF in Washington, according to Ukrainian media.
The Ukrainian delegation met with Director of the IMF's European Department Alfred Kammer, Head of the IMF Mission in Ukraine Ivanna Vladkova-Hollar and Kyiv's representative to the IMF Vladyslav Rashkovan, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said on social media on Thursday.
Issues concerning cooperation with Ukraine were also discussed with World Bank Vice President Anna Bjerde, Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Scott Nathan and his team, namely DFC's Chief Operating Officer Agnes Dasewicz and DFC's Chief of Staff Rebecca Brocato, as well as with U.S. Export-Import Bank President Reta Jo Lewis, Markarova said.
"The topics on the agenda were financial and economic support, participation in the emergency restoration program and steps to ensure energy security," the Ukrainian ambassador said when commenting on the governmental delegation's visit.
Talks were also held with International Financial Corporation Vice President for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean Alfonso Garcia Mora.
As reported, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in early August called on the IMF to intensify joint work on a new cooperation program. The governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, in turn, said in earlier remarks that Ukraine expects to receive a new cooperation program of $15 billion to $20 billion with the IMF.
The Ukrainian president's economic advisor Oleh Ustenko, for his part, said a few days ago that Kyiv is offering a smaller program - of $5 billion for 18 months - which would serve as an anchor to attract $15 billion-$20 billion from other partners.
At the same time, according to Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, the IMF's potential new program for Ukraine without money does not suit either Ukraine or its partners, as given overseas creditors' decision to grant Ukraine a two-year debt freeze, it will mean that Ukraine will use funds provided by other partners to pay off its debt to the IMF.