Ukraine Awaits IMF on Bailout as U.S., Allies Warn Russia

The International Monetary Fund and Ukraine are poised to announce a bailout agreement as the U.S. and European allies continue warning Russia against further threats to Ukrainian sovereignty.

A preliminary accord will probably be unveiled today, Olga Lappo, a spokeswoman for Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said by phone. Battling dwindling reserves and the threat of its third recession since 2008, Ukraine wants a loan of $15 billion to $20 billion from the Washington-based lender, Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak said this week.