"The macroeconomic picture shows the possibility and need of stabilizing the exchange rate. I believe that the National Bank will do it utmost so as to stabilize the situation," said Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a government meeting held on Tuesday, 23 September.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk has informed that today the National Bank of Ukraine held a meeting with the participation of the President of Ukraine, Prime Minister, the National Bank’s Chairwoman, representatives of the banking sector, importers and exporters.

"We have the following macroeconomic picture – for the last three months the total sales volume of currency in the market amounted $14.3 billion. That means we have currency. Imports fell by 33%, and this is what we need to buy currency", he said.

According to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Naftogaz entered into the market in limited quantities: "We’ve coped quite independently."

The PM has noted that a key indicator of the currency market is trade balance: "If last year our trade balance was negative, it was minus $ 6 billion, so, we bought for $ 6 billion more goods from abroad than sold for export - this year we have plus $ 1 billion."

In such circumstances, according to him, "the hryvnia exchange rate should not fall but strengthen."

"Now I’ve got the only explanation, on the one hand, it’s panic, and on the other hand- speculation.

We’ve got the IMF programme as well the World Bank’s one. The macroeconomic picture is acceptable in these war conditions," the Prime Minister stressed.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk has stressed that there is a common position of the President, of the National Bank and the Government – thus "there are all prerequisites to stop these improper dollar jumps":"In Government’s point of view, I emphasize once again that the macroeconomic picture suggests the possibility and need of stabilizing the exchange rate. I am convinced that the National Bank will do it utmost -and it has a lot of means and resources - to stabilize the situation."