US calls on Ukraine to form a new cabinet as soon as possible
According to the Voice of America, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said at a briefing in Washington that the United States called upon the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to promptly approve a new Government which will support political and economic reforms, especially credit programs approved by International Monetary Fund.
"In our view, it is important that the Verkhovna Rada forms the new Cabinet of Ministers committed to necessary reforms, especially those recommended by the IMF as soon as possible,” Toner said. According to him, Washington is sure that the Ukrainian Government will carry out all necessary reforms. "We think that [the Ukrainian government] will implement the Minsk Agreements. The Ukrainian President, Prime Minister and all members of the government must put their differences aside and carry out reforms needed by Ukrainians.”
Toner also added that the US will continue working together with Kiev to reach an agreement for the credit guarantee of 1 billion dollars and he recalled that it can be done with certain conditions.
"As in the case of the previous credit guarantees issued in May 2014 and 2015, they will be provided under condition of the progress in carrying out of necessary reforms or, more precisely, taking key steps for economic reforms,” Toner emphasized. "Particularly, our conditions will contribute to the realization of the new program of the IMF and other steps necessary for economic recovery and stability, anti-corruption policy, strengthening the rule of law and public administration, consolidation of the social protection system and promotion of other urgently needed structural reforms.”
According to the US State Department spokesman, the Ukrainian government "must stand together and continue to move forward the political and economic reforms which are being implemented, in order to provide Ukrainian people what they need."