US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made a surprise visit to Kyiv today to reiterate US support for Ukraine and facilitate US economic assistance.

Yellen met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior government officials days after the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, echoing Washington’s assurances President Joe Biden gave a week ago from the Ukrainian capital.

“America will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Yellen said to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Smygal.

Smichal said through an interpreter that they discussed the prospect of new sanctions against Russia and “confiscation of Russian assets” that could be “used to rebuild Ukraine.”

But the US Secretary of State told reporters that there remain legal obstacles to the total confiscation of the $300 billion worth of Russian central bank assets frozen by sanctions.

The U.S. Treasury Department said the Secretary of State welcomed Zelensky’s actions to strengthen governance and fight corruption — actions necessary to ensure that U.S. bailouts are spent responsibly.

Air raid sirens upon her arrival

Yellen’s visit came a week after Biden visited Kiev and promised $500 million in additional military aid to Ukraine, and days later new sanctions against Russia were announced, including an effective U.S. ban on Russian aluminum imports.

Shortly before his arrival in the Ukrainian capital, air raid sirens sounded, warning of a possible attack.

Yellen visited Kyiv after meeting with G20 finance ministers in India, where she urged her colleagues to increase financial assistance to Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the war, the US has provided Ukraine with more than $13 billion, and the latest disbursement will bring more than $14 billion in aid, with another $8.65 billion expected by September 30.

The latest funds are part of a $45 billion new military, economic and humanitarian program approved by Congress in December as part of US budgetary legislation.

Ukraine is estimated to need $40 to $57 billion in external financing this year to support its economy, and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $15.5 billion loan program to partly cover the shortfall.

Source: APE-MPE, Reuters.