US to provide Ukraine with four economic aid packages
The US will provide Ukraine with at least four economic aid packages, with a total value amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, states US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma.
During his speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Verma announced each of the four aid packages.
"So, the Biden Administration recognizes that agriculture has been – and will continue to be – one of the backbone sectors of the Ukrainian economy," Verma stated.
In particular, the US will allocate an additional $74.7 million to support export-oriented agriculture, allowing Ukrainian farmers and processors to play a more active role in the country's economic recovery.
In addition, the US will provide over $223 million for the restoration of transportation, infrastructure, and logistics. According to the State Department representative, this funding is necessary to ensure the functioning of ports, railways, and other communications in Ukraine.
At the same time, the US will direct $35 million to the Ukraine Recovery Trust Fund to support the establishment of an internal project preparation fund for the Ukrainian government, developed in collaboration with the World Bank. As Verma noted, these measures aim to ensure a more effective recovery process through the cooperation of the public and private sectors.
The Deputy Secretary of State also announced the allocation of over $105 million for the training and preparation of Ukrainians who will be involved in new jobs created within the reconstruction and production process.
On Thursday, December 12, White House Communications Adviser John Kirby announced that US President Joe Biden would unveil a new military aid package for Ukraine. This package is expected to include air defense systems and artillery.