US Yellen Also to Ukraine: "Will Stand with Ukraine During the War"

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made a surprise visit to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, on the 27th (local time).

According to major foreign media outlets such as CNN, Secretary Yellen met with key officials in Kyiv, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

This visit came just one week after U.S. President Joe Biden's sudden visit to Kyiv. The visit was made to reaffirm the U.S. government's support for Ukraine and to emphasize the necessity of military and economic assistance.

During her meeting with President Zelensky, Secretary Yellen praised his leadership in fighting against Russia's aggression and reaffirmed the solidarity stance that "Ukraine's fight is our fight."

She also stated in her meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal that "the United States will support Ukraine as long as the war continues."

Janet Yellen, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Additionally, Secretary Yellen expressed her intention to prioritize delivering $1.25 billion out of the $9.9 billion government budget allocated for supporting Ukraine.

In an interview with Bloomberg prior to her visit, she said, "It is important for Americans to understand that Ukraine needs not only military supplies but also economic assistance," adding, "Without such support, Ukrainian children cannot attend school, hospitals cannot be maintained, and essential public services cannot function."

Secretary Yellen's visit was conducted in secrecy, similar to President Biden's visit to Ukraine a week earlier. The U.S. Treasury Department confirmed the visit only after she had completed all meetings and departed Kyiv.

Earlier, on the 20th, President Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv and announced an additional $500 million military aid package for Ukraine.