Ukraine expects U.S. assistance for 2024 to be unblocked - PM Shmygal

MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - Ukraine expects the United States' assistance for 2024, including direct financial support, to be unblocked, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen in Washington.

"Since the start of the crisis, the U.S. has committed almost $45 billion in defense spending. Ukraine has received 55 military support packages and about $22.9 billion in grants," Ukrainian media outlets quoted the government as saying in a social media post, which cites Shmygal.

Shmygal also briefed Yellen on the reforms that Ukraine is implementing as part of its bid to join the European Union and NATO.

Yellen, in turn, said after her meeting with Shmygal and Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko that "shared priorities" were discussed.

"This includes sustaining international financial support for Ukraine, the country's reform agenda," Ukrainian media outlets quoted Yellen as saying in a social media post.