S&P Global Ratings affirmed its 'B-/B' long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Ukraine. The outlook is stable, S&P has reported.

"We expect the new arrangement will aid Ukraine's efforts to cover sizable external debt obligations maturing next year, and also help to anchor macroeconomic policies through the 2019 presidential and parliamentary elections (2019)," S&P said.

S&P anticipates that a new program announced by the IMF will be approved by the end of 2018.

S&P also reaffirmed its 'B-/B' global scale ratings on Ukraine and 'uaBBB' Ukraine national scale ratings. The outlook remains stable.