PM says U.S. new financial assistance to support reforms of judicial system, customs, decentralization and achieving energy independence

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during a meeting with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman announced the allocation of new financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $220 million in support of judicial and customs reforms, decentralization, as well as achieving energy independence.

"Yesterday I had a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden and we discussed the agenda of our bilateral relations. And I thank Mr. Vice President for announced yesterday $220 million in assistance to Ukraine in order to support reforms," stated the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman reporters after the annual conference of the Center for US-Ukrainian relations «Providing Ukraine with an Annual Report Card», on Thursday, 16 June.

Additional resources are directed to the needs of reform of the Ukraine’s judicial system, customs, decentralization and reducing dependence on Russian gas. Also, the USA will allocate 60 million OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation) to support investment in Ukraine, particularly in agriculture, health care, real estate and others.

"These are new resources, announced by Vice President Joe Biden on the results of our meeting and discussion of the real situation," said Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister reminded that the United States recently signed an agreement on the allocation of loan guarantees in the amount of $1 billion to ensure macroeconomic stability.

He also noted that the US Agency for International Development was ready to continue supporting Ukraine in implementing reforms.

"We receive this support only after the implementation of reforms. We cannot demand something without doing anything. We will continue to make changes aimed at Ukraine’s economy growth, and it is our joint task," Volodymyr Groysman pointed out.

Meeting between the Ukraine’s Prime Minister and Vice President Joe Biden was held on Wednesday, 15 June. Vice President Joe Biden welcomed the first steps of the new Government, which allowed Ukraine to push reforms, including in the judicial and energy sectors. He also praised the privatization process that had been started.

He assured that the USA would continue to support Ukraine on the way of reforms, in particular to root out corruption and increase transparency, as well as to fulfill the plan of cooperation with the IMF.

In the context of the reform of customs, Joe Biden stressed the importance of the intergovernmental agreement on mutual assistance between customs administrations of Ukraine and the United States, which was signed in May this year, and reported that next week the 3^rd mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection would come to Ukraine for evaluation Ukraine’s needs to implement reforms in this area. The sides also discussed steps to further reform the energy sector.

The Vice President noted that the United States would take a firm position in coordination with the European partners for the full implementation by Russia of the Minsk agreements and peaceful settlement in Donbas.