IMF expecting letter from Ukrainian authorities within next few days

The International Monetary Fund is expecting to receive within the next few days a declaration by the Ukrainian authorities showing their determination to cooperate and move the economic program forward, IMF Mission Chief to Ukraine Ceyla Pazarbasioglu has said.

"The authorities are now working on it, and, as the president announced earlier today, they are expecting to come back to us early next week with their own suggestions," Pazarbasioglu said during a press briefing on January 27.

She said the IMF mission and the authorities have had discussions for the past two weeks, as well during its visit in Kyiv. Together they drafted a letter of intent, which forms the basis for the revised program, she explained.

"What would be the key steps is basically, as announced by the authorities themselves today. They have signed a joint declaration. They have shown their determination that they will collaborate and move the economic program forward, which was, for us, a very important sign. So we are very encouraged by it," the IMF mission head said.

According to Pazarbasioglu, based on these discussions, the IMF mission hopes to return to Kyiv in the coming weeks.

"I also understand that the authorities will put to parliament some legislation which would allow them to correct the fiscal situation, especially in terms of the pension fund and other issues," she said.