U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made an unannounced trip to Ukraine to reinforce the Biden administration’s support and highlight the economic aid that’s helping keep the embattled nation’s schools, hospitals and other essential services running as Russia’s invasion enters its second year.
Coming a week after President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to the capital, Yellen’s trip — arriving by train Monday under similar secrecy — is intended both to emphasize globally Washington’s commitment to Ukraine and demonstrate back home why the country needs billions of dollars in non-military aid.
Both Biden and Yellen have said Washington will back the eastern European nation “as long as it takes,” while polls show rising skepticism among Americans about the cost and some Republicans in Congress call for more scrutiny of U.S. assistance.
