Ukraine to receive $1.5 bln World Bank loan guaranteed by Japanese govt - Shmygal

MOSCOW. July 20 (Interfax) - The World Bank will allocate a $1.5 billion loan to Ukraine guaranteed by the Japanese government, Ukrainian media reported, quoting Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal's Telegram channel.

"The agreement has just been signed by the World Bank and the Finance Ministry during our meeting with World Bank Vice President Antonella Bassani," Shmygal said.

He said the funds were intended to improve social welfare, provide aid to people and restore the economy.

Shmygal said that in total, the World Bank group, together with partners, had mobilized $34 billion in assistance for Ukraine, and that more than $22 billion of this had already gone to the country's budget.