On Monday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made an unannounced trip to Ukraine and met with leaders in the European nation. During her trip, Yellen was asked about President Biden’s commitment to the Ukrainian people as Russia attempts to invade the country.
“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,” Yellen said while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Just last week, President Joe Biden made a $10 billion commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts. Thus far, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with $50 billion in federal aid. Moving forward, Yellen says that the Biden administration will maintain a “close partnership in providing economic and budgetary support.”
“As you have said, our support is not ‘charity,’” Yellen told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“It’s an ‘investment in global security and democracy.’”
Yellen is not the only member of the Biden administration to visit Ukraine this winter. Just a few weeks ago, Biden traveled to Europe to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong,” a statement from the White House during Biden’s visit reads.
“Over the last year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support – and that support will endure.”
