Ukraine's goods trade deficit narrows sharply in 2014 as imports plunge

Ukraine's Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko speaks to the deputies during a session of the parliament in Kiev, January 16, 2015. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's trade deficit for goods narrowed sharply last year to $468.3 million, official data showed on Monday, but that was due to a drop in imports following a gas pricing row with Russia and a sharp depreciation of the hryvnia currency.

Ukraine's economy has been hammered by a year of political upheaval and war, putting the former Soviet republic on the brink of bankruptcy.