Janet Yellen Makes “Rare” Trip to Ukraine

(AmericanProsperity.com) – Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made a surprise trip to Ukraine in late February to mark the first anniversary of the country’s war with Russia. During the unannounced visit, Yellen promised more US funding and said, “We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.” She immediately gave $1.45 billion to the Eastern European nation and said this was part of the $10 billion that had been earmarked for the first quarter of 2023. Yellen met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and laid a wreath at the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders in the capital city Kyiv. The wall contains the names and photos of those who have so far perished in the conflict. 

The visit took place only days after the equally surprising visit of President Joe Biden to the country and amid growing unease at home over the progress of the war and the funds provided by the United States. The US has so far given more than $100 billion and some on Capitol Hill have questioned whether Americans will continue to support the handouts given their own economic problems. The conflict has also heightened tension between the United States and China. America has warned the Chinese Communist Party not to supply weapons to Putin, or face serious consequences. 

In the latest developments, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the G20 conference in New Delhi on March 2nd. A US official said that Blinken told Lavrov the US would continue to support Ukraine and that Russia should reverse its decision to suspend participation in the New START nuclear treaty. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty is an agreement between the United States and Russia to limit the deployment of their nuclear weapons arsenal. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of his country’s participation in the treaty during his annual state of the nation address in February.

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