FXS: US offers 1 billion dollar aid package to Ukraine
FXStreet (Łódź) - US secretary of state John Kerry, who visited Kiev on Tuesday, offered Ukraine 1 billion dollars in loan guarantees and the assistance of US experts on economic issues.
According to a senior US administration official, who also traveled to Kiev, the aim of loan guarantees was to limit the blow to Ukraine's finances caused by Russia's energy subsidy cuts. The technical experts would provide training on how to fight corruption and carry out a legitimate electoral process. They would also give assistance to the national bank and finance ministry.
Moreover, the unnamed official announced that the US was planning to impose sanctions on Russia, "in a matter of days, not weeks." The US would also advise Ukraine on its WTO rights as Russia's trading partner.
Meanwhile, Ukraine invited observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation to Crimea to monitor the situation there, which currently remains stable, according to Ukraine’s national security chief, Andriy Paruby. The observers will arrive on the peninsula on Wednesday and remain there for at least a week.
