REUTERS
The president says that the new parliament will provide the basis for the next IMF disbursement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine continues to cooperate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), remaining a reliable partner that is fulfilling its obligations.
"Cooperation is being continued. The International Monetary Fund has always been a reliable partner of Ukraine in times when we need support, and Ukraine, for its part, will also remain a partner in fulfilling its obligations," the president's press service quoted Zelensky as saying on May 28 after a meeting with head of an IMF mission Ron van Rooden.
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The president noted the delay in adopting reform bills and expressed the hope that the parliament of the new convocation would make up for that and provide a basis for the next IMF disbursement.
At the same time, Zelensky explained his decision to disband the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, by losing the ability of the latter to make responsible decisions.
UNIAN memo. Volodymyr Zelensky officially became President of Ukraine on May 20, 2019. During his swearing-in speech, he announced the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, and called on the Ukrainian government to resign.
On the same day, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said he would resign after a Cabinet meeting on May 22. He said he would "form a professional team together with like-minded people" in parliament. At a Cabinet meeting on May 22, Groysman confirmed he was going to resign. On May 23, his letter of resignation was registered in parliament.
The presidential decree on the dissolution of parliament entered into force on May 23. The early elections are scheduled for July 21.
The IMF mission has been working in Ukraine for the second week in order to assess the fulfillment of the conditions for disbursing another $1.3 billion under the current Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The mission will also work with the Ukrainian authorities to ensure criminal liability for illegal enrichment introduced within the previous program, but canceled by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in February 2019.
On May 23, 2019, the IMF said it was ready to resume negotiations on further cooperation with Ukraine after the snap parliamentary elections and the formation of a new government.