KIEV, Feb. 19 – It is expedient for Ukraine to settle relations with the International Monetary Fund and fulfill the requirements of a memo signed with the IMF regarding a 2009 national budget without a deficit, otherwise the country could face a surge in inflation, according to experts from Ukrainian companies.

"The absence of access to IMF funds would increase the pressure on the hryvnia exchange rate. The weakening of the exchange rate boosts the cost of servicing foreign debts in commercial banks and for the non-financial corporation sector in hryvnia terms.