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G7 Set to OK $18B for Ukraine 05/20 06:18
KOENIGSWINTER, Germany (AP) -- The Group of Seven leading economies are set
to agree on more than $18 billion in aid for Ukrainian defense efforts as
meetings of finance ministers close Friday, Germany's finance minister told
Bloomberg Television.
"I think it's a very good signal that the G-7 nations are standing shoulder
to shoulder with Ukraine because they are not only defending themselves, they
are defending our values," German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said in an
interview with Bloomberg.
A representative from the U.S. Treasury Department declined to verify the
amount allocated, and a spokesman from the German finance ministry declined to
comment to The Associated Press.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other leaders spoke this week about
the need for allies to put together enough additional aid to help Ukraine "get
through" the Russian invasion.
"All of us pledged to do what's necessary to fill the gap," Yellen said
Thursday as the ministers finished their first of two days of talks. "We're
going to put together the resources that they need."
The G-7 finance ministers also have grappled with deepening inflation, food
security concerns and the immediate effects of Russia's war in Ukraine during
their talks.
Lindner, the meeting's host, told reporters ahead of the meeting that
Ukraine will likely need "a number of double-digit billion euros" over the
coming months.
As the finance ministers were meeting in Germany, the U.S. overwhelmingly
approved its own $40 billion infusion of military and economic aid for Ukraine
and its allies. The legislation was backed by every voting Democrat and most
Republicans.
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