International Monetary Fund head arrives in Kyiv for unannounced visit

MOSCOW

The International Monetary Fund’s managing director arrived in Ukraine on Thursday to hold high-level talks, including meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

State news agency Ukrinform said Kristalina Georgieva is also expected to meet in the capital Kyiv with Prime Minister Yulia Svyridenko, National Bank Governor Andrey Pyshny, and representatives of Ukrainian businesses.

It added that details of the trip were kept secret for security reasons.

Georgieva's last visit to Ukraine took place in February 2023. Georgieva has family connections to Ukraine as her brother is married to a Ukrainian and has been in the northeastern city of Kharkiv since the start of hostilities.

According to IMF data, Kyiv was obliged to repay part of its loans from the IMF amounting to nearly 126 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) by Jan. 13. This refers to the repayment of funds provided to Ukraine through the IMF's main lending instrument, financed by contributions from member countries.

Per the Fund's schedule, Ukraine's next tranche of financial obligations to the IMF falls due on Feb. 1 and 24, and by April, Ukraine is expected to make several more large repayments of previous loans.