IMF Staff Reaches Agreement With Ukraine For Loan

The International Monetary Fund says it has reached a staff-level agreement with Ukraine for a four-year financing package worth about $15.6bn, offering funds the country needs as it continues to defend against Russia’s invasion.

The agreement – which must still be ratified by the IMF’s board – takes into consideration Ukraine’s path to accession to the European Union after the war. The fund said on Tuesday its executive board was expected to discuss approval in the coming weeks.
“The overarching goals of the authorities’ program are to sustain economic and financial stability in circumstances of exceptionally high uncertainty, restore debt sustainability, and support Ukraine’s recovery on the path toward EU accession in the post-war period,” IMF official Gavin Gray said in a statement announcing the agreement.

IMF staff on Tuesday briefed board members on the deal – which would be Ukraine’s biggest loan package since Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022 – and the board was supportive, a source familiar with the matter said.

If approved, as expected, the Ukraine programme would be the IMF’s biggest loan to a country involved in an active conflict.

The fund last week changed a rule to allow new loan programmes for countries facing “exceptionally high uncertainty”, without naming Ukraine.

Damage to critical infrastructure
The global lender said the agreement was expected to help unleash large-scale financing for Ukraine from international donors and partners, but gave no details. Typically IMF loans unlock support from the World Bank and other lenders.

Calculations have in the past estimated the cost of reconstruction in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

“A gradual economic recovery is expected over the coming quarters as activity recovers from the severe damage to critical infrastructure, although headwinds persist, including the risk of further escalation in the conflict,” said Gray.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal hailed the agreement and thanked the IMF for its support.