The Ukraine government says it has lost control of the restive east as pro-Russian separatists continue to expand their reach. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, blamed what he called “inactivity, helplessness and even criminal betrayal” among Ukrainian forces in the east. The news comes as the International Monetary Fund has approved a $17 billion bailout for Ukraine. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde announced the two-year package.
Christine Lagarde: “Urgent action was necessary. Decisive measures were taken by Ukraine, and decisive measures have just been taken by the IMF. So there has been a very strong endorsement for the program, which will release, over the course of the next two years, $17.1 billion in different installments over the course of those two years.”
