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Ukraine backed into a corner?

Published: 21 June, 2009, 14:42

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TAGS: Ukraine, Politics, Economy


Amid the global economic downturn, Ukraine is finding itself pushed into an even tighter financial corner.

The International Monetary fund predicts the country's Gross Domestic Product will fall by 12% by the end of this year.

The third credit installment from the IMF Stabilization Fund is expected to be transferred to the increasingly impoverished nation next week.

Since the beginning of 2009, Ukraine has printed more than $3 billion worth of the national currency, the hryvna, to shore up its economy.

These measures, along with its huge debt to Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, have many experts saying the country is on the verge of bankruptcy.

EU keeps itself aloof

Meanwhile, the European Union has refused to help Ukraine with the money the country needs to pay for gas.

The European budget had no funds to help Ukraine pay for Russian gas, European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, said at a press conference on Friday.

“I will be frank: this is not our responsibility,” Interfax quoted him as saying.

Ukraine hopes to get a loan of $4.2 billion from European banks, to be able to fill its underground reservoirs with Russian gas. As an alternative, Kiev has suggested that European gas companies purchase the required amount of gas and store it in Ukraine.

Analysts say the present non-payment situation increases chances of new breaks in gas supplies to Europe this summer.

Earlier in June, Russian PM Vladimir Putin called upon Europe to provide Kiev with financial aid. Otherwise, he warned, Western consumers may face new breaks in the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine as early as late June or early July.

The EU replied that the dispute between Moscow and Kiev was purely commercial, and had to be dealt with as such, without any interference from outside.

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Ron Ledford June 22, 2009, 11:21
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I am head of Security for Cyberdyne Communications Inc and we are about to start close to 8 Trillion dollars in Economical Development. Ukraine is going to be just fine soon enough. I Guarantee It! We have more cash flow than GE!

johnx June 21, 2009, 18:09
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From 2000 onwards wasn't Ukraine's GDP incresing becuase Kuchma followed Putins lead and wen't against the Oligarchy in Ukraine?

Count Cash June 21, 2009, 07:33
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Yes it is on the verge of bankruptcy and the reason is simple, it has for far too long, been focused on politics, rather than economics. Orange revolutions and talk of freedom, is cheap, when you can't deliver on what matters to people, jobs, health, pensions, education and a rising standard of living. Political wranglings never deliver on these, especially in a global downturn. Facing and conquering financial reality through a sound economic strategy does deliver wealth for the nation. Ukraine needs to wake up to the hard economic facts, and put leadership in place that is not preoccupied with endless political discussions and power infighting. That leadership, needs to assess the industrial and commercial base and the external and internal market opportunities available to it. Then act in a manner to deliver on this, for the benefit of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine has always miscalculated Europe, it thought, that if it said the right thing, copious amount of money would keep flowing, and all would be fine, and full integration would follow. However, this never had a downside calculation in it, of Europe in financial trouble, or the more basic fact that Europe fears Ukrainian integration, becuase of its strong Russian population component, who would be free to roam Europe. Therefore, if Ukraine wants to come out of this, they need face economic reality, that reality, is that they must concentrate on economics, not depend solely on Europe, and develop themselves in a proud independent fashion, addressing all potential markets equally, and not placing hinderances in the way internationally of these market opportunities. Thsi is the savvy approach to economics in the world today, picking fights and antagonising potential investors and customers, is no way to run a business, and certainly no way to run a macro-economy on a national scale. So I wish you well Ukraine, do change that the Ukrainian people can believe in!