KIEV, Oct. 9 – Ukraine's finance minister has called for the United States, the EU and other international donors to double their financial commitment to the conflict-torn country next year, warning that a $40 billion rescue led by the International Monetary Fund would do too little to guarantee long-term economic stability.

"The government in Kiev has won plaudits from the IMF and donors such as the United States for making significant progress in implementing economic reforms, although the fund still expects the Ukrainian economy to contract 11% this year. It also has promised an ambitious set of further changes including a forthcoming new tax code built around a flat rate of 20% for corporate and personal incomes, VAT and payroll taxes. The government also needed more help from the international community to help finance infrastructure and other investment and demonstrate progress to its own citizens," Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko told the Financial Times.