Weak results of the economies of the EU and will have negative effects on the Ukrainian economy in 2014.

In an interview with the newspaper "Kommersant-Ukraine", said a senior regional economist at the EBRD in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Alexander Pivovarsky.

He said the IMF downgraded its forecast for the eurozone countries and Russia, which will have consequences for all the countries of Eastern Europe.

This negative impact on Ukraine will be the strongest since the country's economy is very dependent on the situation in the EU and Russia, it says.

Pivovarsky said that the EBRD still expects a gradual improvement in the Ukrainian economy through the recovery of foreign markets in the country and the complex structural reforms related to IMF.

"The next two quarters we have optimistic expectations, although the situation in the I quarter was much worse than anticipated. So we have to show annual forecast to the downside, "- said Pivovarsky.

He noted that due to the high proportion of debt and its pressure on the Ukrainian government budget is limited to use fiscal measures. At the same time there is great unrealized potential of structural reforms, such as public administration, management of investment processes and investor protection.

"Even from a very simple structural changes we can expect a significant positive effect. Many of our partners say they are still willing to invest in Ukraine so as to increase its production in the country two or three times. Therefore, these changes in three-four quarters can yield results as acceleration of GDP growth. Unfortunately, the impact of this factor is always transferred to the future "- said Pivovarsky.

According to him, a strong hryvnia weakens domestic producers and the transition to "floating" exchange rate can have a positive effect on the economy.

In addition, the agreement with the IMF will liberalize credit policies that facilitate lending to the economy, says economist.

According to forecasts of the EBRD for the year GDP growth in Ukraine will be close to zero. However, given that the economic downturn in the quarter I was at least 2%, even for a zero-growth economy to sudden acceleration. Rather, the figure shows the II quarter of growth in comparison with I quarter, although do not expect growth over the same quarter in 2012.

"This growth is likely we will see only the III quarter" - said Pivovarsky.