Ukraine puts creditors’ nerves to the test

EurActiv reported on the 18 October 2013 that Ukraine would have to pay international creditors more than $60 billion (€44 billion) in the following 18 months amid dwindling hard currency reserves and in the context of upcoming presidential elections in March 2015.

On the 31 October 2013, EurActiv reported that the IMF has put pressure on Kyiv to put an end to a the Soviet-era practice of subsidies in the gas sector, an unpopular move for current President Yanukovitch ahead of the elections in 2015.

ESO: Background information: Gazprom bill puts strain on Ukraine finances http://www.europeansources.info/record/gazprom-bill-puts-strain-on-ukraine-finances/

EurActiv, 31.10.13: IMF presses Ukraine government to raise gas prices at home http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/imf-presses-ukraine-government-r-news-531471

---