US offers Ukraine US$335m in security aid

[WASHINGTON] The White House announced Thursday that it will provide Ukraine with US$335 million more in security assistance.

The announcement came after a meeting between US Vice President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Washington.

The aid is vital to a country that has faced an acute economic and security crisis since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and fomented a separatist revolt in Ukraine's east.

While Washington has looked to support Ukraine's pro-western government, it has also been concerned by rampant corruption in Kiev.

Thursday's announcement comes after Ukraine's parliament sacked the country's chief prosecutor over his alleged attempts to stall high-profile corruption investigations.

According to the White House, Mr Biden told Poroshenko more money could be on the way.

"The vice president welcomed the efforts of President Poroshenko to form a stable, reform-oriented government, and stressed that this step, as well as the enactment of needed reforms, are critical to unlocking international economic assistance, including the third $1 billion US loan guarantee."

In May of last year the United States signed its second US$1 billion loan guarantee deal for Ukraine, aimed at helping it surmount the Russia-backed insurgency and rebuild its tattered economy.

AFP