DISINFO: Rise of gas tariffs in Ukraine is in line with IMF policy
SUMMARY
Corruption was normal for former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. All his officials were working according to the same scheme. The easiest way was to profit from oil and gas. The rise of gas tariffs was in line with the policy of the International Monetary Fund and the American “masters” of Ukraine. The Americans wanted to stop the Ukrainian industry.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Ukraine is controlled by the IMF or is a puppet of the US.
There is no evidence that cooperation with the IMF could threaten the Ukrainian economy. On the contrary, IMF assistance helps to develop the Ukrainian economy. Ukraine has been a member of the IMF since 1992. Relations between Ukraine and the IMF are based on agreements that support the economic development of Ukraine and the improvement of free market conditions.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Ukraine to put gas tariffs in line with world market prices. What is more, one of the IMF’s demands for Ukraine is to clamp down on corruption. Kyiv cooperates with the IMF actively, and this cooperation will hopefully help Ukraine to bail out its economy from dire straits.
The relations between the US and Ukraine are bilateral relations between two independent countries. The USA recognised Ukraine as an independent state on 25th December 1991. The US policy is centred on realising and strengthening a stable, democratic, prosperous, and free Ukraine, more closely integrated into Europe and Euro-Atlantic structures.
It was former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his inner circle who plunged Ukraine into such a deep mire of corruption that they were overthrown and fled to Russia in the wake of a popular uprising in 2014 (the Euromaidan).
Pro-Kremlin media often claim that Ukraine is governed by foreign countries and that international financial bodies kill its economy.