Ukraine plans to hike household gas prices to meet IMF requirements
Ukraine plans to hike household gas prices to meet IMF requirements, Energy Minister Ihor Nasalyk tells reporters in Kiev Wednesday. At the same time, Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin says of the timing of EU macroeconomic aid, which is tied to a larger IMF deal: “Of course, we are speaking about this year.” Ukrainian News reports that Ukraine is negotiating the start of a new 1.5 year, $4-5bn IMF standby agreement to substitute the current extended fund facility that expires in March. Dragon Capital writes: “Continued cooperation with the Fund would anchor domestic economic policies during the peak of election cycle (presidential elections in March and parliamentary in October 2019), helping preserve earlier reform achievements, including central bank independence, and force authorities to proceed with reforms in key areas.”