Press Release No. 19/49

Statement by the IMF Managing Director on the Meeting with Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko

February 16, 2019

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), met today with Yulia Tymoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine, in Munich, Germany. Following the meeting, Ms. Lagarde made the following statement:

“I had an open discussion with Yulia Tymoshenko on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Our conversation focused on recent economic developments in Ukraine and the need for continued implementation of the authorities’ economic reform agenda under the IMF-supported Stand-By Arrangement, including the anti-corruption framework. I highlighted the urgency for Ukraine to safeguard the gains made in restoring macroeconomic stability and to press ahead with the deeper structural reforms needed to achieve stronger economic growth and improve people’s living standards in a sustainable manner.