Zelensky seeking multi-billion-dollar financial assistance for Ukraine from IMF and World Bank

MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has called on the global financial community to help rebuild Ukraine's economy.

"It would be useful to create a coordination format for financial support of Ukraine," Zelensky said by video link on Wednesday, addressing the Second Roundtable Discussion for Support to Ukraine, which took place on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington.

"Second is to ensure the basics of people's lives. We must intensify cooperation - to restore what has been destroyed and to guarantee the state's financial stability," he said.

Zelensky estimated these needs at "$38 billion to cover the state budget deficit next year."

"These are the salaries and pensions of teachers, social payments, this is what guarantees that our people will live," he said.

"We need another $17 billion to rebuild critical infrastructure - schools, hospitals, transport and energy infrastructure," Zelensky said, adding that "we also need targeted loans of $2 billion to rebuild the electricity infrastructure and to resume our electricity exports to Europe."

"We also need loans of at least $5 billion to purchase fuel for the upcoming heating season. We might not have to use these funds, but they should be there to guarantee stability," he said.