Ukraine receives $1.25 bln as another U.S. grant

MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax) - A $1.25-billion grant from the United States was credited to the Ukrainian state budget on Wednesday, the Ukrainian media said with the reference to the Ukrainian Finance Ministry.

The money was channeled through the Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) Project as the fourth additional transfer via the World Bank's trust fund, the ministry said.

The grant will partially compensate budget expenses, including those on pensions, will support certain state social assistance programs (assistance for internally displaced persons), and will help pay salaries to public sector employees, as well as workers of the State Emergency Service and educational establishments.

Ukraine has received a total of $15.5 billion as grants from the United States since the beginning of the crisis, the ministry said.

Ukraine's needs for external funding of the national budget near $38 billion in 2023. The amount has grown to $42.5 billion after the recent enlargement of expenses by UAH 537 billion.

International partners donated $19.7 billion between January 1 and March 20, 2023, compared to $32.14 billion provided last year, the ministry said.

Internal funding through domestic government bonds has reached $3.43 billion this year.