US guarantees a one-billion USD loan for Ukraine
(VOVworld) - The US will guarantee a 1-billion USD loan for Ukraine said US Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to Kiev on Thursday. Kerry said Ukraine is facing numerous difficulties in its reform process and the US, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank (WB) are closely cooperating to ensure Ukraine’s future economy.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, right, shakes hands with US Secretary of State John Kerry after a press conference in Kiev on Thursday. Picture: AFP/SERGEI SUPINSKY
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Kerry also said that Washington will provide Kiev with 16.5 million USD to repair houses and buy items of necessity for people living in eastern Ukraine. The money will also be spent on improving the living conditions of refugees and restoring services to people living in areas of conflict. He said Washington was not banking on a military solution in east Ukraine but the conflict there could not end with a "one-sided peace". Nato and some big powers including Germany, France, Canada, the Netherlands, and Italy announced their opposition to a US plan to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons.