Biden, Poroshenko Discuss Ukraine Reforms, IMF Cooperation
KYIV (Sputnik) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and US Vice President Joe Biden discussed the need to continue government reforms in Ukraine, including within Kyiv’s further cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Poroshenko’s press service said Thursday.
“The sides stressed the need to continue reforms in Ukraine, in particular, in the context of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund,” the press service said after Poroshenko’s phone talks with Biden.
Late on Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader reassured IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde in another phone conversation that he remained committed to reforms agreed to in exchange for an IMF assistance package.
Earlier, Lagarde warned that Kyiv risks returning to a pattern of failed economic policies characterized by slow progress in fighting corruption and fraught with breaking down the four-year $17.5 billion assistance package.
Kyiv has received two payments under the economic support program. On January 21, Poroshenko announced the country expected to receive the next tranche from the fund in February.