National Bank of Ukraine upgrades int'l reserves' estimate to $65 bln by end-2026

MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has upgraded its estimate of international reserves by the end of 2026 to $65 billion from $52.2 billion, and by 2027 to $72.9 billion from $59.2 billion, Ukrainian media reported.

"External assistance will help both fund the still high budget deficits caused by the crisis and to maintain a high level of reserves. This will allow the NBU to maintain the foreign exchange market's stability and implement currency liberalization measures, subject to risk control," the NBU said in a statement quoted by the media.

The regulator said that at the end of 2025, the Council of the European Union decided to provide Ukraine with 90 billion euros in financial assistance in 2026-2027 (USL - Ukraine support loan). Support will also be maintained under the current ERA Loans facility. Coordination of a new program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the amount of $8.1 billion is also ongoing.