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IMF adjourns meeting on Ukraine loan

Sunday, 19 March 2017 4:56 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 19 March 2017 5:57 PM ]

This file photo taken on September 30, 2016 shows the logo of the IMF Headquarters in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

Ukraine on Sunday said the International Monetary Fund has postponed a board discussion on disbursing a new $1-billion loan tranche after Kiev cut trade links with eastern regions held by pro-Russia militants.

"The IMF board of directors has postponed for a short period the review planned for Monday of the issue," Ukraine's finance ministry said in a statement.

There was no separate confirmation from the IMF.

Cash-starved Ukraine is desperately waiting for the next installment of a $17.5 billion rescue program that has been held up repeatedly since it was agreed in 2015 over delays by Kiev to carry out reforms.

The IMF and authorities in the ex-Soviet nation reached a preliminary agreement earlier this month to pave the way for the board to discuss handing out the fourth slice of the mammoth loan.

But that deal appears to have been rocked by Ukraine's decision on Wednesday to halt trade with pro-Moscow militants that it has been battling since 2014.

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The pro-Western leadership in Kiev took the drastic step after militants seized dozens of Ukrainian-owned businesses on their territory in response to a trade blockade by nationalist protesters.

Ukraine's Finance Ministry said the IMF delayed the loan disbursement discussion as the economic impact of these measures needs to be tallied up, but insisted the loan disbursement would get back on track soon.

"Clarifying these calculations is important for both sides to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the program," said Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk.

Ukraine's national bank said in a statement that it will hold a monetary policy committee meeting on Monday to "update macroeconomic forecasts with regard to the effect of the blockade of trade with occupied areas".

(Source: AFP)

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