Ukrainian PM, U.S. Treasury secretary discuss financial situation in Ukraine

MOSCOW. April 16 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met in Washington to discuss the financial and energy situation in Ukraine and the impact of events in the Middle East on global markets, Ukrainian media reported citing Sviridenko's post on her social account.

Sviridenko is in Washington to attend the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring session.

The Ukrainian prime minister and the U.S. Treasury secretary attached special significance to the development of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF) and outcomes of its board of directors meeting held in Kiev in March. They noted the importance of approving new investment projects and agreed to expand the fund's capabilities and create a co-investment mechanism.

They also discussed expanding the mechanism for covering military risks for investors in the Ukrainian economy, in particular through employing U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) instruments.

Sviridenko said these unique instruments could play an important role in supporting private capital during the crisis, Ukrainian media said.