Bloomberg: Ukraine, IMF agree on higher funding needs through 2027

Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed to increase financing needs through the end of 2027, with a large portion of the funds potentially coming from frozen Russian assets.

The IMF has persuaded the Ukrainian government to significantly raise its forecast for additional funds the country will require through 2027. The new figure stands at $65 billion, compared to Kyiv’s previous estimate of $38 billion, Bloomberg reports.

Sources note that the upward revision came after discussions with the IMF. Officially, neither side has commented on the details of the negotiations.

The revised estimate has already been shared with the European Commission, which previously relied only on income generated from frozen Russian assets immobilised after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine is also preparing to negotiate a new four-year IMF loan, as most of the current $15.5 billion program will be exhausted before its 2027 expiration. Early estimates put the new package at around $8 billion, with discussions between Kyiv and the IMF scheduled for November.

The IMF has expressed concern about Ukraine’s projections amid growing military expenditures, which could affect financial sustainability. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to hold bilateral meetings during the UN General Assembly in New York, including with US President Donald Trump, to secure further support.

By Khagan Isayev