During a video conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kristalina Georgieva, the head of the International Monetary Fund, noted signs of easing price pressures in Ukraine and projected a steady recovery in the year ahead. The remark came as part of a broader briefing on Ukraine’s macroeconomic trajectory, supported by the IMF’s ongoing engagement with Kyiv. [Reuters]
Georgieva credited the joint efforts of the Ukrainian government and the Central Bank for achieving the country’s targets. She highlighted that all quantitative and indicative benchmarks set for the end of December, along with the five structural targets expected by the end of January, had been met. This performance underlines Kyiv’s disciplined policy mix and the central bank’s careful balance between inflation control and economic stimulus. [Reuters]
Discussions during the call also touched on the IMF’s potential role in shaping a formal support framework that could accompany Ukraine’s path toward closer European Union integration. The IMF conveyed that an agreement, once approved by the fund’s management, would remove a key hurdle and pave the way for initiating negotiations on a comprehensive fund-supported program. [Reuters]
In related commentary, former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki emphasized a more accelerated track for Ukraine’s EU accession, suggesting it should not be treated as a routine candidate but rather as a priority with an expedited timeline. This view adds a political dimension to the economic dialogue, underscoring the interconnected nature of Ukraine’s reform efforts, financial stability, and regional integration. [Reuters]