US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Monday to reaffirm US support for the struggle against Russia's invasion and promote US aid to bolster Ukraine's war effort.
Ms Yellen met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other government officials a matter of days into the war's second year, repeating US assurances delivered by President Joe Biden a week ago in the Ukrainian capital.
"I bring to Kyiv a clear message from President Biden and the American people: we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," said Ms Yellen.
"We are matching our words with actions. The US is proud to be Ukraine’s largest bilateral donor."
To date, the US has provided close to $50 billion in assistance to Ukraine.
Ms Yellen reaffirmed that the support is not “charity", rather "an investment in global security and democracy".
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who also met Ms Yellen, said the two had discussed further US sanctions on Russia aimed at weakening its economy and military and "confiscating frozen Russian assets and putting them to the benefit of the recovery of Ukraine".
But Ms Yellen said there were still significant legal obstacles to fully seizing the $300 billion in Russian central bank assets frozen by sanctions.
Ms Yellen also announced the transfer of the first $1.25 billion from the latest $9.9 billion tranche of assistance from Washington.
In a private meeting with Mr Zelenskyy late in the afternoon, the Treasury chief said she had commended him "for his leadership and resolve in the face of Russia's illegal and unprovoked war".
The Treasury said Ms Yellen welcomed the Ukrainian President's actions to strengthen government and address corruption — actions needed to ensure US economic aid is spent responsibly.
Ms Yellen's visit comes a week after Mr Biden made a similarly unannounced trip to Kyiv and promised $500 million in additional military aid for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia announced days later.
Shortly before her arrival in the capital, the city's air raid sirens rang out as a warning of a possible attack, although they often turn out to be false alarms.
Ms Yellen laid a wreath at a memorial wall for Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war, saying: "I am witnessing first-hand the devastating toll of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s brutal war."
US President Joe Biden in surprise visit to Kyiv - in pictures
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US President Joe Biden (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold a press conference in Kyiv on February 20. AFP -
Mr Biden made a surprise trip to Kyiv only days before the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. AFP -
Mr Biden is greeted by Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office. EPA / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service -
The presidents meet at Mariinsky Palace. AP -
Mr Biden is flanked by Mr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska. AP -
The pair discuss Ukraine's continuing conflict with Russia. EPA / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service -
Mr Biden's visit to Kyiv was unexpected. EPA / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service -
It is the US President's first visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. AFP -
The presidents take a walk in Kyiv to discuss the next stage of the war. AFP -
The two leaders share a warm embrace. AFP -
The US has provided Ukraine with a supply of weapons and military assistance. AFP -
Mr Biden visits St Sophia Cathedral in the Ukrainian capital, where he laid a wreath. Reuters
Reuters contributed to this report
