Kiev leaders deny pre-default state

Representatives from the International Monetary Fund arrived in Kiev this week to discuss further payments under the existing program and a possible expansion.

“Part of the mission is assessing the financing needs of Ukraine and how those financing needs will be fulfilled,” IMF spokesman William Murray told reporters in Washington. “It’s really important that the donor community step up and provide financing.”

Yatsenyuk referred to the Financial Times story yesterday, telling lawmakers it was the newspaper, not he, saying the country may need the extra $15 billion in aid.
“It’s very difficult for us to get out of this crisis alone; without the support of international partners it is practically impossible,” Yatsenyuk said.

His finance minister, Natalie Jaresko, said Ukraine is “neither in default, nor in a pre-default condition,” according to an interview with weekly magazine Focus.
“This question isn’t being discussed at the government at all,” she told Focus. “Though no one conceals that the situation is very difficult. Ukraine needs urgent stabilization of the financial sector, including the banking sector.”