The Unites States is sending Ukraine an additional $1.25 billion in humanitarian aide through the World Bank PEACE project, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Wednesday. He said the funds will be used to support Ukraine’s budget, especially for social and humanitarian spending.
“Grateful to US & the World Bank,” Shmyhal said on Twitter. “We appreciate the help of our partners in the fight against the aggressor.”
Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) project partially supports Ukraine for needs not directly related to security and defense. The money will support numerous programs, among them pensions, social assistance to people with low income and children with disabilities, wages to medical and emergency workers and grants to internally displaced Ukrainians. Ukraine has received 14.5 billion from international donors under the PEACE project.
Developing:
∙ The latest U.S. military aid package for Ukraine expected to be announced this week will total up to $300 million and include munitions for drones, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
∙ The announcement comes after drones were used in attacks on Moscow, although U.S. officials say Ukraine has agreed not to use any American-provided weapons for attacks on Russian soil.
∙ Also included in the newest package will be munitions for Patriot missile batteries and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Stinger missiles for the Avenger system, mine-clearing equipment, anti-armor rounds, unguided Zuni aircraft rockets, night vision goggles and about 30 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
Russia claims it destroyed last Ukraine warship
Russia’s Defense Ministry claims it destroyed Ukraine’s last warship with “a high-precision weapon of the Russian Aerospace Forces.” The Yuriy Olefirenko was struck Monday in the port of Odessa, the ministry said on Telegram. Ukraine’s military had no immediate comment on the claim, althought it said Monday that blistering airstrikes had ignited a fire and damaged infrastructure at the crucial port.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ship from USA TODAY.
Contributing: The Associated Press
