WASHINGTON, – The United States will back down Ukraine an additional $500 million to help his government continue critical government operations, doubling the aid pledged by the US President Joe Biden in March, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday.
Yellen told a press conference that she shared the relief plans during a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
“Ukraine’s needs are urgent and we plan to send this direct aid to Ukraine as soon as possible,” Yellen said. “We know this is just the beginning of what Ukraine needs to rebuild, and I am committed to working with Congress and our international allies and partners to build on that support over the medium and long term.”
The new package will help Ukraine pay government salaries and pensions and fund necessary social programs to prevent a worsening of the humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian invasion.
Yellen said the $1 billion in direct aid will require the Biden administration to submit an additional budget request to Congress and vowed to ask lawmakers for more aid to Ukraine.
“We must find a way to meet the needs of Ukraine,” he said.
Shmyhal, who is in Washington for the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
He is later scheduled to speak about Ukraine’s financing needs at an event organized by the World Bank.
(By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal and edited in Spanish by Carlos Serrano)
We need your help:
Like you, thousands of Cubans in Spain in the United States in Mexico in Canada read and support CiberCuba’s independent journalism. Our editorial independence begins with our economic independence: no organization from any country funds CyberCuba. We make our own agenda, we publish our opinions and we give a voice to all Cubans, without outside interference.
To date, our newspaper has only been financed by advertising and our own funds, but that limits our options. For this reason we ask for your help. Your financial contribution will allow us to conduct more investigative journalism and increase the number of staff covering the island, while maintaining our editorial independence. Every contribution, big or small, will be very valuable for our future. Starting at just $5 and taking just a minute of your time, you can start collaborating with CiberCuba. Thanks.
contribute now