The Head of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) said in an interview with Ukrinform that the trade blockade of Donbass would increase the deficit of the balance of payments of Ukraine to $ 4.3 billion. 

Answering the question about the revision of macroeconomic indicators for the IMF, Gontareva noted that the leadership of the State Bank had expected that the trade blockade would not last long, and would not have a significant impact on the economy. 

‘We saw it as a risk only in the longer term. Today, the realities are different, and the blockade is a part of them, which will lead, in particular, to widening the current account deficit of the balance of payments to $ 4.3 billion this year,’ said the Head of the National Bank. 

Gontareva noted that in order not to destabilize the currency market, the NBU adheres to the plans of monetary liberalization and intends to further relax the restrictions of export-import transactions and foreign direct investment. 

Earlier, the National Bank reported that inflation in Ukraine had increased to 12.6%.

For your consideration: Members of the «Blockade headquarters» put forward an ultimatum to the government, according to which the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine must agree, before April 2, on the supply of coal from other countries and stop buying it in Russia. 

On March 15, during the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, offered to stop the transport communication with Donbass. The NSDC approved all paragraphs of the decision on the transport blockade of the DPR and LPR.

According to: Информационное Агенство Новороссия