IMF says essential for Ukraine to push forward with reforms agreed under $8.1 bln loan

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's mission chief for Ukraine on Friday said it was essential fur Ukrainian authorities to deliver on the structural reforms agreed as part of a new $8.1 billion loan package approved by the IMF's board on Thursday.

Gavin Gray told reporters that Ukraine had agreed to adopt by the end of March a package of tax measures involving its value-add-tax (VAT) threshold. The sooner those changes came into effect, the better, Gray said.

Deputy mission chief Trevor Lessard said the IMF was closely monitoring reports that some holders of Ukraine's dollar bonds who agreed to an earlier restructuring are exploring ways to get better terms, concerned that a December restructuring put them at a disadvantage. The current loan does not foresee additional debt service payments, but the IMF would modify its approach as needed, Lessard said.