Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund reported no real progress in talks on Thursday, after a fresh round of negotiations aimed at reviving a $15 billion standby loan programme. Ukraine is facing repayments of about $3.8 billion to the Fund this year under an old programme.
The IMF halted lending to Kiev in early 2011 under a new programme after the government delayed a planned increase in household gas and heating prices, a measure needed to cut its budget deficit. "The parties agreed to pursue active dialogue through our technical teams in the period ahead," IMF spokesman David Hawley told reporters after IMF chief Christine Lagarde held talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov in Zurich on Thursday.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Tigipko said in Kiev that talks would resume next month. "No final decisions have been made but the government will continue meetings (with the Fund)," Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Tigipko told reporters. "We have agreed to resume talks in two or three weeks."