IMF mission meets Finance Ministry leadership to discuss economy and 2027 budget

On August 31, Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko and IMF experts commenced a three-day meeting in Kyiv to discuss Ukraine's economy and the 2027 budget, according to a statement from the Finance Ministry. Marchenko expressed gratitude towards the International Monetary Fund for its ongoing support and expertise, which he believes will bolster Ukraine's economic and financial resilience.

The ministry emphasized that the upcoming negotiations will outline the next steps in their cooperation, considering the current economic situation and the state budget's financing requirements for 2027. The ministry recalled that Ukraine had pledged to undertake significant structural reforms as part of a program approved in February, aimed at fostering a swift post-war recovery and progress towards EU membership.

These reforms encompass enhancing fiscal institutions, tax administration, governance, and anti-corruption systems, as well as constructing financial and market infrastructure for reconstruction using private capital, and advancing a market economy. The International Monetary Fund mission, led by Gavin Gray, initiated its operations in Ukraine on August 31, 2026.

The discussions will center on the economic outlook, the government's commitments to macroeconomic and structural reforms under the IMF's Extended Fund (EFF), and the draft for the 2027 budget. In February, the IMF Executive Board approved a four-year EFF arrangement with Ukraine, spanning from 2026 to 2029, tailored to the evolving macroeconomic and security landscape.

This program entails $8.1 billion in budget support, with $2.2 billion already allocated to the state budget.