The International Monetary Fund has welcomed the laws passed by the Verkhovna Rada on March 31 to increase excise duties on alcoholic beverages and tobacco, the IMF's External Relations Department said in a statement.

"We welcome the measures on excise taxes passed today by the parliament as part of the government's anti-crisis package," reads the statement.

According to the IMF, the measures taken by the parliament will help Ukraine handle fiscal challenges.

At the same time, the IMF points out the need to take measures to prevent the deficit of the Pension Fund.

The IMF statement said the Fund remained "in close consultations with the authorities," but made no mention of the return of the mission to Ukraine.