According to a source familiar with the process, officials from the International Monetary Fund are currently in Warsaw, Poland negotiating with Ukrainian officials regarding the next disbursement of $890 million from the country’s $15.6 billion loan. The negotiations, which began on Saturday, are scheduled to conclude on Thursday.
As discussions on providing fresh IMF funds for Ukraine are ongoing, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives is currently delaying $61 billion in U.S. aid for the country. The Senate, in contrast, has passed a $95 billion aid package that includes funds for Ukraine with bipartisan support. However, the measure is currently stalled in the House, where Republicans have a narrow 219-212 margin.
Once a staff agreement is reached on the next tranche of IMF funds for Ukraine, it will be reviewed by IMF management and the executive board, and final approval is expected in the second half of March, according to the source.
A report from Bloomberg earlier suggested that the IMF was close to an agreement on a new disbursement of $900 million. However, an IMF spokesperson declined to comment on the amount of the possible disbursement, confirming only that an IMF staff team, led by Gavin Gray, was in Warsaw to carry out a third review of Ukraine’s Extended Fund Facility Arrangement.
“The team will communicate at the end of mission,” the spokesperson said. Disha Mishra in Bengaluru reported; Cynthia Osterman edited the article.
