Ukraine to receive first IMF tranche of $5 billion today

The money constituting the first tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is being received by the accounts of the Finance Ministry with the National Bank.

This is stated by the Finance Ministry's press service, Censor.NET reports citing Liga.

"The money started coming into the accounts of the Ministry of Finance in the National Bank of Ukraine. The NBU is to receive $2.2 billion and the Finance Ministry - $2.8 billion," the press service noted, adding that the tranche should be completed by the end of the day.

Yesterday, Minister of Finance Natalie Jaresko reported that the first tranche of the IMF financial aid will be received by Ukraine on March 13. According to her, the size of the first tranche would constitute about $5 billion, of which $2.2 billion will be allocated to the National Bank, and $2.8 billion to the government.

On March 11, the IMF board of directors approved a new four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program in the amount of $17.5 billion, or 12,348 SDR, to replace the previous stand-by program in the amount of $17 billion.

It is expected that Ukraine will receive $10 billion in 2015.