President: I did not initiate the replacement of the NBU head, but he has difficult relations with government positions

Volodymyr Zelensky said that he will no longer act as an intermediary between the National Bank and the Ministry of Finance.

President Volodymyr Zelensky did not initiate the replacement of the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, his remarks from a meeting with journalists for LB were conveyed. Zelensky reminded that the National Bank is an independent institution.

The current head of the NBU, Andriy Pyshnyy, reportedly has “difficult relations” with the government and the Verkhovna Rada. And generally with government stances.

“Because the position of the National Bank under him and the position of the Ministry of Finance differ on many issues. In difficult moments between them, they asked me to resolve the situation, and I have resolved it all these years. But now, when various information campaigns have begun, aiming to influence something, I will no longer take part in setting the dialogue between these institutions. Let them understand that they should think about stability in the state, not about information campaigns,” he said.

Context

According to LB, Volodymyr Zelensky theoretically considered the idea of replacing the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshnyy, but as of now there are no signs of his removal being prepared. Initially, Bloomberg spread information about the head of state’s dissatisfaction with the NBU head. The agency’s sources said that the head of state considers Pyshnyy “too close” to the International Monetary Fund – this is precisely what anonymous interlocutors called the main cause of the president’s irritation. Tensions between Ukrainian authorities and the IMF began to rise in winter, when the lender approved the provision of $8,1 billion in exchange for fulfilling a number of obligations, including the unpopular decision to raise taxes. Later, the Fund allowed delaying the tax decision.

Also the president is allegedly dissatisfied that the regulator does not do enough to support the wartime economy. Among the reasons for Zelenskiy’s discontent, journalists also cited Pyshnyy’s public activities, which could be interpreted as political.

Recently the media spread information about an investigation into Andriy Pyshnyy’s education diploma. And after NABU announced the involvement of the state Sense Bank in a scheme to launder illegal funds to secure a pledge for Herman Halushchenko, MPs summoned Pyshnyy for a briefing. He told the deputies about steps the bank took in connection with this situation.