KIEV, March 29 – Ukraine’s total direct and guaranteed state debt increased by 0.7%, or $257 million, in February to a new record high of $37.944 billion, the Finance Ministry reported.

According to the ministry, the country's state debt in February in the hryvnia equivalent increased by 0.5%, or UAH 1.635 billion, to UAH 303.174 billion due to the strengthening of the hryvnia against the U.S. dollar. This, however, is also a historic peak.