KYIV, Feb 22 – Ukraine is close to reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to receive the next $900 million payment from a $15.6 billion loan, a boost to the country's war-ravaged budget and a vote of confidence as U.S. aid remains fragile, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

The agency said Ukraine expects to reach an agreement with IMF staff as soon as Thursday, according to officials familiar with the negotiations, who asked not to be named because the deal is not yet finalized. The agreement must be ratified by the fund's executive board, which almost always occurs without problems.