Govt financial bloc to visit Washington next week – Ukrainian PM

The financial bloc of the government of Ukraine will attend the traditional Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which will start on April 18 in Washington, and will also hold talks with the U.S. government, the goal is to raise additional funds, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

"Next week, the financial unit of our team will work in Washington. Meetings with the IMF, the World Bank and the U.S. government to raise additional funds to finance the needs of the Ukrainian army, the Ukrainian economy and our people," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel, as well as told the American television channel ABC News.

According to him, in the coming months, Ukraine's state budget deficit could reach $5 billion, and therefore Western financial assistance is needed now more than ever.

The prime minister said that Ukraine is ready for a diplomatic option to end the war, but will not give in to its national interests. "If Russia does not want to end the war with diplomacy, then we will have to end this war on the battlefield," Shmyhal said.

Economic Adviser to the President of Ukraine Oleh Ustenko, in an interview with The New Yorker, recently estimated the Ukrainian budget deficit in the coming months at about $8 billion a month and announced the desirability of partner assistance of $50 billion for six months. At the same time, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko earlier predicted a state budget deficit for April-May of $5-7 billion a month compared to $2.7 billion in March.

According to the National Bank, Ukraine has received $3.8 billion in international financial assistance since the beginning of the war.

Source: www.en.interfax.com.ua