KIEV, June 11 – The slow and gradual restoration of the Ukrainian economy will start in 2015-2016, with rises of 2.5% and 4%, respectively, the World Bank predicted in a forecast published in the Global Economic Prospects report on Wednesday.

According to the document, after zero growth in 2013, this year Ukraine's GDP will fall by 5%.

The bank said that Ukraine’s GDP is expected to shrink in 2014, taking into account several key developments that have worsened the outlook since January, including the loss of access to its biggest export market (Russia), sharp rises in the price of imported gas, and declines in commodity prices for steel and wheat — two of the country’s key exports.