With the IMF reportedly demanding approval of a 2019 government budget, the Cabinet of Ministers extended the freeze on household gas prices through Oct. 18.

With the IMF reportedly demanding approval of a 2019 government budget, the Cabinet of Ministers extended the freeze on household gas prices through Oct. 18. Both items are hurdles standing between Ukraine and about $3 million in IMF, EU and World Bank low interest loans and aid. Concorde Capital’s Alexander Paraschiy writes: “The cabinet is getting cold feet on its alleged agreement to raise gas rates for households (during an intense election campaign), and will seemingly do so only with the confidence that it will receive the next loan tranche soon.”