Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has pointed out the importance of implementing the program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before the external payment peak in 2019.

"I am sure that the healthcare, pension and education reforms would help attracting investment and increasing economic growth. This would allow us to reduce a lag from more developed countries. We must maintain macroeconomic stability as a precondition. We must implement the IMF program, without which Ukraine would become extremely vulnerable, especially, taking into account the fact that the peak of payments on external liabilities is in 2019," the president said, delivering his annual message to the parliament on Thursday.

He said that it is important to endorse the pension, education and healthcare reforms. He expressed hope that the lawmakers would vote for the judicial reform, as its adoption is a condition for cooperation with the IMF.