IMF 'impressed' with Ukraine commitment to reform

The International Monetary Fund said Friday it viewed the new government in Ukraine as committed to undertaking needed reforms in exchange for aid.

IMF European Department Director Reza Moghadam said he had held "productive" talks with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and his economic team over the past two days, as the country seeks emergency help.

"I am positively impressed with the authorities' determination, sense of responsibility and commitment to an agenda of economic reform and transparency," Moghadam said in a statement.

"The IMF stands ready to help the people of Ukraine and support the authorities' economic program to put Ukraine firmly on the path of good economic governance and sustainable growth while protecting the poor and vulnerable."

The new government has said it inherited virtually empty coffers after the previous president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted on February 22.

The IMF, the United States and European powers have said it needs to commit to deep reforms, including hiking heavily subsidized energy prices, in order to gain a financial support package.