Finance ministers from nine European countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, have expressed strong opposition to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) plans to restart economic consultations with Russia, which had been suspended after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In a letter to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, they warned that engaging with Russia could damage the IMF's reputation and be exploited for propaganda by the Kremlin. The IMF plans to begin virtual discussions on September 16 and send a delegation to Moscow by October 1, a move criticized as potentially undermining donor support for Ukraine. The ministers highlighted that any data provided by Russia could be misleading, raising concerns over the accuracy of IMF assessments. They suggested that if the IMF proceeds, donor countries might redirect their support to other institutions such as the World Bank. The IMF defended its actions as a mutual obligation under its Articles of Agreement, despite the backlash from European nations.