KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine needs "financial mobilisation" and further help from foreign backers to survive the economic crisis, Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko said on Friday, stressing that the country was meeting all its current foreign debt obligations.
Economists have warned the country could face a drastic debt restructuring, unless international lenders beef up existing loan offers to plug an estimated $15 billion funding gap.
"To win in this war, together with the military we need to carry out financial mobilisation," Yaresko told parliament, underscoring the link between Ukraine's financial plight and the separatist conflict in its eastern regions.
"To survive, Ukraine needs the financial support of its friends and partners - its a question of loans, not gifts," she said.
Talks with the International Monetary Fund on an existing $17 billion loan package have been overshadowed by hints from Russia it might demand early repayment of a $3 billion loan due to Ukraine violating its terms.
"Despite the information campaign about the supposed insolvency of Ukraine, I declare Ukraine today is fulfilling all aspects of its external financial obligations," Yaresko said.
(Reporting by Natalia Zinets; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
