EBA and GB4U held a meeting with IMF leadership ahead of URC

26/ 06/ 2026

On June 24, ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk the European Business Association and Global Business for Ukraine held a closed-door meeting with the team of the International Monetary Fund. The meeting provided an opportunity for a direct dialogue between business representatives and the IMF on Ukraine’s macroeconomic outlook, key reforms needed to support economic stability, and prospects for further cooperation with the IMF and other international partners. During the discussion, Gavin Gray, IMF Mission Chief for Ukraine, noted that the IMF’s expectations regarding Ukraine’s overall reform agenda remain unchanged, with agreement reached on a revised timeline for agreed reforms, corrective actions to address slippages, and additional policy commitments. Participants also discussed efforts to combat the shadow economy, which remains one of the IMF’s priorities in the context of increasing domestic tax revenues. Particular attention was paid to tax reform and measures aimed at improving transparency. Anna Derevyanko, Executive Director of the EBA and CEO & Co-Founder of GB4U, presented an overview of the current business climate in Ukraine, including developments in the labour market, energy and fuel challenges, market and tariff issues, and the broader regulatory environment. We are grateful to the IMF team - Gavin Gray, Mission Chief for Ukraine, Priscilla Toffano, Resident Representative for Ukraine, and Kristina Kostial, Deputy Director of the European Department - as well as to all participating companies for an engaging and constructive discussion.

The meeting provided an opportunity for a direct dialogue between business representatives and the IMF on Ukraine’s macroeconomic outlook, key reforms needed to support economic stability, and prospects for further cooperation with the IMF and other international partners.

During the discussion, Gavin Gray, IMF Mission Chief for Ukraine, noted that the IMF’s expectations regarding Ukraine’s overall reform agenda remain unchanged, with agreement reached on a revised timeline for agreed reforms, corrective actions to address slippages, and additional policy commitments.

Participants also discussed efforts to combat the shadow economy, which remains one of the IMF’s priorities in the context of increasing domestic tax revenues. Particular attention was paid to tax reform and measures aimed at improving transparency.

Anna Derevyanko, Executive Director of the EBA and CEO & Co-Founder of GB4U, presented an overview of the current business climate in Ukraine, including developments in the labour market, energy and fuel challenges, market and tariff issues, and the broader regulatory environment.

We are grateful to the IMF team – Gavin Gray, Mission Chief for Ukraine, Priscilla Toffano, Resident Representative for Ukraine, and Kristina Kostial, Deputy Director of the European Department – as well as to all participating companies for an engaging and constructive discussion.