WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen issued the following statement on the disbursement of $4.5 billion in direct budget support for Ukraine:

“Today, the United States continued to uphold its unwavering commitment to Ukraine with the mobilization of an additional $4.5 billion in grants for direct budget support.

These funds will begin disbursing in the coming weeks and help the Government of Ukraine defend against Russia’s illegal war by bolstering economic stability and supporting core government services, including wages for hospital workers, government employees, and teachers as well as social assistance for the elderly and vulnerable. Combined with our security assistance and the immense bravery of the Ukrainian people, these funds are a critical tool in Ukraine’s resistance to Putin’s unprovoked invasion.

These disbursements will bring total U.S. direct budget support to Ukraine to $13 billion, all in grants. We encourage other donors to increase and accelerate their assistance to Ukraine.

In addition to providing economic support, the Treasury Department and U.S. government will continue to use all of our tools, including our historic sanctions coalition, to weaken Putin’s war machine.”