Lender Beware? Poroshenko 'Unwilling to Follow Western Advice'

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko does not always follow the advice of his Western partners, according to former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst.

Even though Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko often holds talks with his Western partners, he sometimes prefers not to take their advice, RIA Novosti quoted former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst as saying.

"Poroshenko frequently speaks with prominent Western politicians and he must reckon with what they are saying. But I know about the West advising Poroshenko on some issues and his being unwilling to follows the advice," Herbst said without elaborating.

His remarks came a week after Poroshenko and US Vice President Joe Biden discussed the need to continue government reforms in Ukraine, including issues related to Kiev's further cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to Poroshenko's press service.

In another development last week, the Ukrainian President reassured IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde in a telephone conversation that he remained committed to the reforms he has agreed to implement, in exchange for an IMF assistance package.

Earlier, Lagarde warned that Kiev risks returning to a pattern of failed economic policies characterized by slow progress in fighting corruption; and that this could jeopardize the four-year 17.5-billion-dollar assistance package.

Kiev has already received two payments under the economic support program. On January 21, Poroshenko announced that his country expected to receive the next tranche from the IMF before the end of February.