Ukrainian Authorities Began Negotiating on Restructuring External Debt

The Ukrainian government began negotiations on the restructuring the external debt with international partners amid spending to prevent the epidemic of new coronavirus in the country. This announced on the air of the ICTV channel Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. According to him, negotiations have already begun, but at the moment in the world there is a struggle for money, as all countries are trying to get help or loans. Shmyhal also added that the authorities act like all developed countries of the world - they compete for a cheap financial resource for the budget. The deputy head of the president’s office, Yulya Kovaliv, predicted the optimal scenario for the development of the economic situation in the country. According to her forecasts, against the backdrop of the fight against COVID-19, Ukraine’s GDP will fall by 5%, and the state budget deficit in 2020 will increase to 7% of GDP, although the initial figure was 2%, RIA Novosti informed. Earlier, on March 23, it was reported that due to the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine, the dates of spring call were postponed. Earlier this day, it was reported that in the Donetsk, Ternopol and Cherkasy regions, due to the threat of the spread of coronavirus, the emergency mode was introduced. Prior to this, the emergency mode was announced in Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and several other areas. Restaurants, cafes, shopping centers and movie theaters are forbidden to work, citizens are not allowed to gather in groups of more than 50 people. The Verkhovna Rada cancelled holding plenary meetings during quarantine. From March 11 to April 3, Ukraine is quarantined due to coronavirus. It provides for closure of educational institutions, ban on holding mass meetings of more than 200 people, sports and cultural events that can take place without spectators. Air traffic with some countries has also been discontinued. According to Worldometer, the international statistical bureau, as of March 23, 73 cases of the disease were recorded in Ukraine, three people died. In total, more than 378.8 thousand people in the world fell ill, more than 100 thousand patients recovered, more than 16.5 thousand died.