The central bank and government officials had confidently predicted through the spring that a new tranche – Ukraine had requested $700 million – would be forthcoming in September.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has cried foul over the $11 billion route, calling it a sell-out to the Kremlin leader, though his rhetoric has calmed of late.

The move is expected to damage the country's reputation in the West and jeopardise an already fragile economic recovery.

The countries of Central Asia have reason to be concerned about Afghanistan in the wake of the Western withdrawal. Yet it remains unclear how they will mitigate the security risks, and what major power support to do this might look like.

The government of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is on a non-stop effort to totally overhaul the economy and image of Central Asia’s largest country.

Periodic shootouts have increased along the border, where a kilometre here or a metre there apparently is enough reason to unleash heavy calibre weaponry