Ukraine's reserves reached $54. 7 billion as of December 1, increasing by 10.6% in November. The growth was driven by receipts from partners, which offset the NBU's net sale of foreign currency and debt payments.
Students at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal clashed with security forces, demanding the payment of scholarships and financial aid. The unrest comes amid the country's acute financial problems and its debt burden of 132% of GDP.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Budget voted the State Budget for 2026 for the second reading. Proposed changes include an increase in the personal income tax percentage for local budgets and additional funds for arms procurement.
A record 3,339 amendments were submitted to the draft State Budget for 2026, and three more Ukrainian budgets would have been needed to accommodate them. Local budgets were left with 64% of personal income tax, and UAH 58 billion was allocated for teachers' salaries.
The draft extended financing program between Ukraine and the IMF provides for a package of changes to strengthen public finances and enhance anti-corruption policy. These innovations will affect tax policy, customs rules, the energy sector, and the state's interaction with business.
Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund have reached a staff-level agreement on a new 4-year support program worth $8. 2 billion. This program will help finance critical expenditures and maintain macro-financial stability.
Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the President's Office, expressed full support for anti-corruption bodies, emphasizing that no one in Ukraine is above the law. She stressed that corruption risks are increasing in wartime, but Ukraine is responding to them.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered an audit of state-owned energy and defense companies. He also initiated a review of ARMA and FDMU.
Belarus acknowledges a deficit in foreign exchange reserves to cover debt payments in 2026, with only $5. 3 billion available for operational payments out of $13.7 billion on paper. The Ministry of Finance plans to attract additional resources from Russia to cover the deficit.
Ukraine held a meeting with the IMF mission regarding a new Extended Fund Facility program for 2026-2029. The reboot of the energy system and the adoption of the State Budget-2026 by December 2 were discussed.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to EU leaders assessing Ukraine's funding needs for 2026-2027. This amount is 135.7 billion euros, based on the assumption that the war will end in 2026.
Roksolana Pidlasa, head of the Verkhovna Rada budget committee, announced that Ukraine could receive the first tranche under the new IMF program, amounting to approximately $8 billion, in January 2026. The total volume of the four-year IMF program is about $8 billion.
An IMF mission led by Gavin Gray has begun discussions with Ukrainian authorities on a new extended financing program. The discussions focus on economic policies, including fiscal and monetary areas, as well as structural reforms to strengthen governance and combat corruption.
The IMF will soon launch a mission to Ukraine to assess the country's financial needs and discuss a potential new lending program. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack emphasized the importance of a robust anti-corruption architecture in Ukraine.
The United States granted Hungary a one-year waiver from sanctions for using Russian oil and gas after Prime Minister Orban's meeting with President Trump. Hungary pledged to purchase approximately $600 million worth of liquefied natural gas from the US.
As of November 1, 2025, Ukraine's international reserves reached $49. 5 billion, the highest figure in the entire history of independence. The 6.4% increase in October is attributed to significant inflows from international partners.
European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis stated that the EU must provide Ukraine with "credible" financial commitments to unlock new IMF funds. This would allow for an IMF aid package of approximately $8 billion over the next three years, which is expected in January.
The State Statistics Service presented a new digital portal, StatGPT, with a built-in AI assistant for quick data retrieval. It allows users to obtain information without complex terminology and hours of searching, supporting the international SDMX standard.
The European Commission is considering covering Ukraine's funding deficit through funds raised from common EU debt and bilateral grants from member states. These options complement the proposal to use immobilized sovereign Russian assets totaling 140 billion euros.
Five Norwegian political parties have called on Oslo to intervene to overcome Belgium's concerns about using frozen Russian assets to finance a €140 billion 'reparations loan' to Ukraine. The Norwegian Prime Minister has ordered a full review of the country's possible participation.
IMF support for Ukraine depends on the EU's decision regarding a multi-billion dollar loan secured by frozen Russian assets. Belgium's refusal could lead to a blockade of IMF funding, which amounted to $8 billion.
Why the National Bank is preventing a sharp fall of the national currency and what will happen to the dollar.
A new UN-backed forum has been launched to tackle debt problems in developing countries. Global public debt reached $102 trillion in 2024.
Of the EU's 185 billion euro reparations credit, 40 billion will cover Ukraine's budget needs, 100 billion will go to military needs, and 45 billion euros will cover the ERA program. The European Commission is working on the implementation mechanism, and the instrument is expected to become available in the first quarter of 2026.
European leaders are considering using frozen Russian assets to provide loans to Ukraine that may not be repaid. This move is a response to the cessation of financial support from the US and Kyiv's growing needs.
The US opposes the EU's plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, citing risks to market stability. This move is a setback for the EU, which has been trying to persuade G7 countries to join its initiative.
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official dollar exchange rate for October 20 at 41. 73 hryvnias. In the cash market, the dollar rose by 10 kopecks, trading at 41.95 hryvnias.
The International Monetary Fund is pressuring the National Bank of Ukraine to devalue the hryvnia, which could strengthen the country's finances. NBU officials resist, citing risks to inflation and public sentiment.
The US supports the new IMF lending program for Ukraine and the EU initiative to provide a loan based on Russian assets. This was stated by European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis.
Yulia Svyrydenko participated in the G7 finance ministers' meeting in Washington, where the use of frozen Russian assets was discussed. She emphasized the need to direct these funds towards Ukraine's recovery and compensation for damages.
