Burc Eruygur
16 January 2026•Update: 16 January 2026
ISTANBUL
Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed the preparation of a new program Thursday to provide expanded financing for the war-torn country for 2026-2029.
In a statement on US social media company X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed the issue with IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva, who arrived in Kyiv earlier Thursday on her first visit since 2023.
“We appreciate the IMF’s readiness to continue supporting Ukraine and to make efforts toward the implementation of the new financing program,” Zelenskyy said, thanking Georgieva for the IMF’s attention to Ukraine, as well as for the programs that “help strengthen our economy and resilience.”
“This is especially important now, when Russian strikes and severe winter weather are creating serious challenges. I informed her about Russian attacks on our energy sector, on all critical infrastructure, and on residential buildings,” he added.
According to a separate statement by Ukraine’s Presidential Office following the talks, the new program will provide extra funding to “support macro-financial stability, finance critical defense and social needs, and rebuild Ukraine” after the end of the now nearly four-year war.
"For her part, she (Georgieva) assured that she would continue to make efforts to implement the new financing program, which the IMF and the Ukrainian government have been working on since the fall of last year," it added.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said earlier on X that she welcomed Georgieva to Kyiv where they inspected the damage from Russian strikes at one of the capital’s major energy facilities, and expressed gratitude for her “personal engagement in supporting Ukraine during this challenging time.”
