Ukraine expects first tranche of $3 billion from IMF aid package

[Xithras]

14. Of course they're moving quick. Can't give people time to reconsider.

The IMF aid is "loans". IMF loans come with strings attached that require economic modifications to the countries that accept them. If the countries fail to make the modifications (austerity, privatization, currency devaluation, acceptance of western banking practices, the recognition of "corporate and investor rights", etc), they are considered to be in default of the loan and the full amount must be repaid immediately...and most countries don't have billions laying around that can be used to pay off debt. More troubling, the IMF has the power to seize profits from international trade and commerce from a defaulted country in order to "repay the debt", so defaulting almost certainly means economic destruction for the nation.

By getting the loans pushed through and signed by a "legitimate" interim government, the IMF is successfully tying the hands of the elected governments that come later. The elected governments will still be liable for debt incurred by the interim government, and will be required to abide by the terms of the IMF loans that the interim government agreed to.