Ukraine needs program of thorough economic reforms after situation gets better – experts

The threats of an anthropogenic and social character grow in the east of Ukraine, and, what is worse, the economic risks for the country as a whole have significantly worsened in the background of the confrontation in the east, experts say.

These conclusions were reached by experts from the Nova Ukraina (New Ukraine) National Institute for Strategic Studies and set out in a report entitled "The Escalation of the Conflict in Eastern Ukraine: Risks and Implications for Economic Policy," which was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Thursday.

"It's evident, and I do believe this, that after the situation in Ukraine stabilizes, after the saving of the country's social and territorial integrity, we'll need to take serious, pragmatic measures to achieve further development, probably and desirably with the accompaniment of programs for a thorough modernization of the branches in the east," the director of Nova Ukraina Andriy Yermolayev said.

In addition, the expert said there was a need to reconsider agreements between Ukraine and Russia and other countries of the Customs Union after the situation the country improves.