The United States decided to allocate Ukraine an additional $ 335 million

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Vice President of the United States Joe Biden. Photo: president.gov.ua

The United States decided to increase military and economic assistance to Ukraine, allocating additional 335 million dollars for training Ukrainian military personnel and non-lethal defense supplies, as well as 1 a billion dollars for economic assistance.

This was announced by Vice President Joseph Biden.

Assistance is urgently needed for a country that is experiencing a serious economic and security crisis since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, provoking separatist unrest in eastern Ukraine.

An increase in aid was announced after the meeting between Biden and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, which took place on Thursday in the White House. Poroshenko arrived in Washington for a summit on nuclear security.

Photo: president.gov.ua

Petro Poroshenko speaks at a summit on nuclear security in Washington. Photo: president.gov.ua

Biden's statement shows a significant increase in military aid to Ukraine, which continues to fight pro-Russian separatists in the east. At the end of last year, Congress has already approved the allocation to Ukraine of the 300 defense assistance package of millions of dollars to help it fight against the separatists, which Russia supports.

The package included 50 million dollars in lethal weapons, including armor-piercing weapons systems, mortars, grenade launchers, small arms and ammunition.

Biden informed Poroshenko that the United States decided to allocate "additional 335 million dollars in military aid, which will cover the costs of additional military advisers, training troops and non-lethal assistance," the White House said in a statement.

"The Vice President reassured the United States of its sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, stressing that the United States continues to condemn the occupation and attempt to annex Crimea, emphasizing the importance of maintaining sanctions against Russia until the full implementation of the Minsk agreements," the statement said.

The two leaders also condemned the “illegal detention” of the Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, calling for her release and immediate access to medical care.

Biden welcomed Poroshenko’s efforts to create a stable, reform-oriented government, "and stressed that this step, as well as the necessary reforms, is key to receiving international economic assistance, including US loan guarantees in the amount of 1 billion dollars."

"The interlocutors agreed on the further development of the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States, which will be facilitated by the visit to Ukraine of US Secretary of State John Kerry in the near future," stressed the press service of Poroshenko.

The press service Poroshenko also announced his meeting with President Barack Obama.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko with US President Barack Obama. Photo: president.gov.ua

According to the report, the heads of state discussed the situation in the Donbass and the Crimea and coordinated efforts for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements by Russia.

«Президенты также обсудили вопросы развития стратегического партнерства между Украиной и США, — подчеркнула пресс-служба. — Президент Обама подтвердил готовность предоставить третий транш кредитных гарантий в размере 1 млрд долларов США по завершении процесса формирования правительства в Украине».

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