Central bank governor, Yakiv Smoliy, resigned July 1, complaining of “systematic” political pressure from the President’s office.

Central bank governor, Yakiv Smoliy, resigned July 1, complaining of “systematic” political pressure from the President’s office. His abrupt resignation forced the Finance Ministry to abort what was shaping up to be a successful $1.75 billion eurobond sale. Since then, financial analysts warn that the nomination of a credible successor to Smoliy is key to Ukraine receiving in September a second tranche of its $5 billion IMF aid package.