REUTERS

Ukraine's key lender, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is ready to continue talks and cooperation with the new government of Ukraine after the snap parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for July 2019.

"We don't comment on political developments in any country so I won't comment on Ukraine. And again, just to say, reiterate, once the new government has been formed after the elections, we stand ready to reengage and to discuss our further cooperation with Ukraine," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said at a briefing in Washington, D.C., on May 23, when commenting on further IMF-Ukraine cooperation after new president Volodymyr Zelensky decided to disband the Ukrainian parliament ahead of time.

"As you know, the IMF has had a strong partnership with Ukraine in recent years and as I say, we will be reengaging to discuss that further cooperation post the elections," he added, adding if he meant the current or new cooperation program.

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He also recalled that IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, speaking in a recent telephone conversation with President Zelensky, assured him of the IMF's readiness to continue to help Ukraine.

As UNIAN reported, during his inauguration speech in parliament on May 20 Zelensky announced the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament along with snap parliamentary elections. He also proposed that the incumbent Cabinet resign. A few hours later, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman announced his decision to step down.

A presidential decree on the dissolution of the parliament became effective on May 23. The snap parliamentary elections are scheduled for July 21.