Ukraine to receive first IMF tranche by Friday - Finance Minister Yaresko

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko said on Thursday Kiev expected the first trance of $5 billion under a new four-year International Monetary Fund programme to be disbursed no later than Friday.

"The tranche, which we expect tomorrow if not today, will enable us to increase reserves," Yaresko said in a briefing, adding that the central bank would receive $2.2 billion (1.5 billion pounds) of the money and the remaining $2.8 billion would go to the government.