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Ukraine hopes for extension of IMF aid program — official

Ukraine needs an additional $15 billion within several coming weeks to avoid a financial disaster

© EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

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Poroshenko urges IMF to consider increasing financial aid for Ukraine

KIEV, December 30. /TASS/. Ukrainian authorities hope that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will transfer all three tranches of the financial aid under its program in one piece in 2015 and that it will provide additional financial help, Central Bank Chairwoman Valeriya Gntaryova said at a press briefing Tuesday.

“Two tranches must have arrived this year, and then the third one - at the beginning of next year. This is why I expect them to be united, for sure. And I hope that we will get more if the program is extended,” Gontaryova said.

Ukraine received the first IMF tranche of US $3.2 billion in May and the second $1.4 billion tranche in September. The third and fourth tranches are to be united by virtue of an earlier IMF decision and will amount to $2.7 billion.

The IMF has already decided to grant the next tranches but the amount and the schedule are yet to be decided, Deputy Chairman of the country’s presidential administration Alexander Chaly said earlier in December. An IMF mission will start its work in Ukraine on January 8.

According to the Financial Times, the IMF calculated that Ukraine needs an additional $15 billion within several coming weeks to avoid a financial disaster.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine IMF

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