IMF approves $1 billion aid tranche for Ukraine - Ukraine president

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko tours the Finnish Parliament with the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela (L) during his one-day visit to Finland in Helsinki, Finland on Tuesday, 24th Jan., 2017. LEHTIKUVA/Vesa Moilanen/via REUTERS

KIEV (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Monday approved the payment of $1 billion of new aid to Ukraine, its President Petro Poroshenko said on his official Facebook page.

The IMF is supporting Ukraine under a $17.5 billion bailout programme. Kiev is expecting a total of four tranches of aid this year, in exchange for the government implementing reforms and tackling corruption.