Interfax-Ukraine
February 27, 2023
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, U.S. assistance to Ukraine in the field of security, economy, humanitarian and social support has amounted to about $50 billion, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.
Yellen said at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Monday in Kyiv that since the beginning of this unprovoked aggression, the United States had been one of the biggest donors bilaterally supporting Ukraine….Now it can be said that in the field of security, economy, humanitarian and social support, they have already provided about $50 billion to support our country.
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In turn, Shmyhal noted that in 2022 the United States was the leader among partner countries in terms of the level of financial assistance provided.
According to the prime minister, the United States has committed itself to allocate more than $10 billion to Ukraine by September, and has already begun this process.
In addition, the United States has already committed $1.5 billion as part of the rapid recovery, as well as $1.1 billion to support energy recovery in Ukraine and Moldova.
Among other things, according to Shmyhal, during the meeting, the parties discussed sanctions pressure on Russia, military risk insurance in Ukraine, and the confiscation of frozen Russian assets.
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Ukrinform
February 27, 2023
U.S. Treasury secretary expects “increasing toll on Russia’s economic trajectory over time”
While the Russian economy has not yet buckled under the wide array of sanctions from the United States and other Western nations, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday she expects it to grow weaker over time as the country loses foreign investment and runs through its reserves and rainy-day funds.
“We will see an increasing toll on Russia’s economic trajectory over time,” she told CNN in an exclusive interview during her unannounced visit to Kyiv.
She added that Russia’s ability to replenish the military equipment that has been destroyed in their attacks on Ukraine has been “very greatly jeopardized.”
Yellen also said China would face “severe” consequences should it start supplying drones and ammunition to Russia.
“We have been extremely clear that we will not tolerate systematic violations by any country of the sanctions that we have put in place that are intended to deprive Russia of access to military equipment to wage this war,” she said.
The Treasury secretary noted that the U.S. has been “very clear with the Chinese government and have made clear to Chinese firms and financial institutions that the consequences of violating those sanctions would be very severe.”
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Interfax-Ukraine
February 27, 2023
Zelenskyy urges head of US Treasury to continue strengthening sanctions against Russia
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Kyiv, during which he called on the American side to continue strengthening sanctions against Russia.
“An important meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen. The United States has been powerfully supporting us since the first days of this war not only with weapons, but also on the financial front. We really appreciate it,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram following the talks.
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“It is necessary to further strengthen sanctions to deprive Russia of the ability to finance the war,” the president stressed.
…The urgency of involving the private sector in the implementation of relevant projects was emphasized.
In addition, the President of Ukraine noted the importance of developing mechanisms for directing the seized Russian assets to the restoration of the state.
During the meeting, attention was paid to the current state of Ukraine’s interaction with the IMF and the prospects for the implementation of the Fund’s programs.
Zelenskyy also noted the decision of the U.S. administration announced on February 24 to allocate $9.9 billion to Ukraine in 2023 as direct budget support. According to him, these funds are extremely important because they allow covering the unsecured part of the state budget….
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Interfax-Ukraine
February 27, 2023
USA to provide Ukraine with next tranche of aid to restore grids early March – US Energy Secretary
The United States is in the process now of sending the third tranche of high-voltage equipment to Ukraine to complete it at the beginning of March this year, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in an interview with Voice of America.
She…expressed admiration for the promptness of attracting the assistance already provided to restore the operation of the power system.
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At the same time, Granholm confirmed that her country supports the desire of the Ukrainian side to build a new model of the power system, which will be based on clean energy and decentralization. As a result, this will help achieve the key goal – the energy independence of Ukraine as an integral part of national security.
“I do know that the president — President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy – has really expressed a desire to have a different grid. A grid that is distributed, that has clean energy, but also that isn’t so centralized so that it becomes a target. And that is very encouraging, that’s something we very much want to work with Ukraine on,” she said.
According to her, the U.S. National Renewable Energy lab, doing roadmaps for countries that have expressed interest in going 100% renewable, is ready to work with Ukraine.
Anti-bellum 