Shmyhal asked international donors for urgent meeting: We cannot wait for March, we need funding in January
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal demands an urgent meeting with international donors, as Ukraine cannot wait until March 2024, and needs help as early as January.
This is reported by Bloomberg, Censor.NET reports with reference to LB.UA.
In a letter to the coordination group that controls the funds, Denys Shmyhal said that funding is needed next month and should be directed to the needs of Ukraine's main budget.
The appeal reinforces Ukraine's calls as financial assistance worth more than $110 billion is delayed due to political struggles in the United States and the European Union.
"In order to maintain macroeconomic stability, we must receive sufficient, prompt and predictable external financing starting in January 2024," Shmyhal said in the letter.
According to the prime minister, it is hardly possible to have any discussion about recovery and reconstruction projects when Ukraine is fighting for survival.
We cannot wait until March to finance our social needs," Shmyhal said.
This urgency in donors' financial support is due to pressure from Putin, who is exploiting the shaky support among Ukraine's allies and the failure of the counteroffensive.
Last week, Ukraine's Finance Ministry said that funding needs for 2024 amount to $37.3 billion after receiving more than $42 billion in foreign aid in 2023.
It said donors are to meet in January ahead of a scheduled meeting next month.
