IMF board to review $8.1 billion loan for Ukraine on Thursday, sources say

WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's executive board will review an $8.1 billion lending agreement for Ukraine and vote on its approval on Thursday, two sources familiar with the plans said.

The IMF declined to comment on the board meeting, which has not yet been posted on its website calendar. 

IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack last week said the board would review the new Ukraine lending package in coming days, but gave no specific date. 

IMF staff reached an agreement with Ukrainian authorities on the new loan in November. If approved, as widely expected, the program would replace an existing $15.5 billion IMF facility, helping Kyiv maintain economic stability and public spending as the war with Russia grinds into a fifth year.

Ukraine has said it faces a near $140 billion budget shortfall over the next few years.

Ukraine marked the four-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24. Since Moscow's invasion, Ukraine has required hundreds of billions of dollars of support from Western governments and institutions and a more than $20 billion sovereign debt restructuring.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met with top Ukrainian officials during a surprise visit to Kyiv last month, telling Reuters she expected to submit the new lending program to the Fund's board for approval in coming weeks.

At the time, she said the situation in Ukraine had clearly worsened since officials signed a preliminary lending agreement in November, requiring some changes, but the thrust of the program's requirements would remain the same.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Andrea Ricci )