Overview
- Kristalina Georgieva met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other senior officials in Kyiv and reviewed progress on conditions tied to a new IMF program.
- The IMF chief said the roughly $8.1–$8.2 billion, four-year arrangement could be sent to the executive board within weeks, with some steps to be calibrated for current conditions.
- Georgieva affirmed that removing a VAT exemption is a must-have requirement and said board approval would require the measure to be introduced in parliament, with up to a year discussed to secure passage.
- Ukraine faces a severe energy crisis after Russian strikes, and Georgieva inspected damage at a major facility during the visit.
- A senior parliamentary budget official said existing resources cover the first quarter but stressed swift IMF board approval to unlock EU and IMF budget financing, citing prior actions on parcels, digital-platform taxation, and VAT changes for sole traders.