KIEV, May 12 – The weakening of the hryvnia would give an opportunity to keep inflation at 12-14% in 2008, while price growth could be up to 25% without this step, according to director of the treasury at Kiev-based Ukrgasbank, Andriy Ponomarev.

"In 2008, inflation could be 20-25%. If the currency and exchange rate policy were changed towards the weakening of the hryvnia, inflation could fall to 12-14% due to the cheapening of imported energy. Mainly, buying power of the population and the level of prices of energy would impact the growth in prices," he told Interfax-Ukraine last week.