The first tranche of IMF agreement money should arrive by the end of this year and could be as much as $1.9 billion

The first tranche of IMF agreement money should arrive by the end of this year and could be as much as $1.9 billion, Kateryna Rozhkova, the central bank deputy governor, tells reporters. Prime Minister Groysman has asked the Rada to approve the government’s 2019 budget by Dec. 1, a key hurdle to getting IMF Board approval for the support program. Another hurdle was overcome Thursday when Naftogaz raised household gas prices 23.5%.