IMF and World Bank spring meetings – discussion on global economic stabilisation and response to ongoing geopolitical challenges
On 14-18 April, Minister of Finance Kristupas Vaitiekūnas will visit Washington D.C. to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). The events will discuss the unpredictable outlook for the global economy, the challenges posed to financial markets in the face of the geopolitical situation and the importance of increased international cooperation.
“We live in an extremely unpredictable time, when every day can present a new global challenge, for which we need to find a solution here and now. The crisis in the Middle East and its aftermath have contributed to the challenges posed by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, exacerbating the geopolitical situation. The importance of international cooperation is now growing even more, and together we need to find the most effective solutions to stabilise the currently uncontrolled waters of the world economy," Minister of Finance Vaitiekūnas said ahead of his visit to the US.
In Washington D.C., the Minister will attend IMF and WB events, including meetings of the IMF International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), the WB Development Committee, the Nordic and Baltic Groups of these institutions, as well as several high-level events related to support for Ukraine, the Ukraine Round Table discussion and an event focused on Ukraine’s vision for the future of the economy. He will also meet with representatives of the IMF and the WB, representatives of international banks and finance ministers of other countries, and EU Ambassador to the US Jovita Neliupšienė.
The meetings will focus on the global, European and Lithuanian economic situation, possible ways of stabilising it and possibilities to respond more effectively to overlapping crises. It will also discuss Ukraine's macroeconomic situation, highlight the need to further mobilise support for Ukraine and accelerate the implementation of critical projects in the war-torn country. In addition, the visit will address defence financing and resilience building, the Middle East crisis and the tense geopolitical situation and the consequences of fragmentation on the global economy.
These topics will be at the core of the meetings with Vice President of the Europe and Central Asia region at the WB Antonella Bassani, Director of the IMF's Europe Department Alfred Kammer, the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF experts responsible for Ukraine’s issues, Head of the Lithuanian Mission Kazuko Shirono, and her team at the IMF. During the meeting with the Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko, opportunities for Lithuania to participate more actively in the country's reconstruction projects will also be discussed.
During his visit to Washington, D.C., the Minister will also attend a Bloomberg panel discussion on defence financing and investment promotion on Europe's front lines, as well as a podcast interview with world leaders by the World Economic Platform Semafor, and together with his Latvian and Estonian counterparts will discuss the importance of strengthening bilateral economic cooperation at a meeting with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce.
Last updated: 16-04-2026
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