The United States announced $1.3 billion in aid to the Ukrainian economy

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Antony Blinken announced Wednesday at the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine in London that the United States will provide $1.3 billion (€1.2 billion) in additional aid to Ukraine’s economy, particularly its critical infrastructure.

“As long as Russia continues to destroy, we will be there to help Ukraine rebuild: rebuild lives, rebuild their country, rebuild their future,” said Anthony Blinken.

The Secretary of State indicated that just under half of this new US support ($520 million) will be allocated in particular to rebuilding the country’s energy infrastructure, while $657 million will be mobilized for the “modernization” of railways, ports, borders and “all the basic infrastructure that connects the country with Europe.”

He added that the rest of the money will be allocated to support Ukrainian companies and means of financing to digitize the Ukrainian administration, in particular to “remove corruption,” in a clear message to Ukrainian leaders, whom he called on to continue reforms in this direction.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the United States has already provided more than $20 billion to support Ukraine’s economy and development, and more than $40 billion for military support alone.

But, like other leaders before him on the conference platform, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak or European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he called on the private sector to get involved.

Blinken insisted that “while governments and financial institutions play an important role in rebuilding Ukraine, only the private sector can mobilize the level of investment required to meet the country’s vast needs.”

The head of US diplomacy also insisted on the fact that Russia would have to pay for the damage caused by its aggression against Ukraine.

Russia is responsible for destroying Ukraine. Ultimately, Russia will have to bear the cost of rebuilding Ukraine.