(Washington) The World Bank (WB) announced on Friday that it would grant an additional $530 million in support to Ukraine to enable it to “meet the urgent needs caused by the Russian invasion”.
Posted yesterday at 9:36 p.m.
This support, which takes the form of a new loan via the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), is guaranteed by the United Kingdom to the tune of 500 million dollars and by Denmark for 30 million, specified the institution in its press release.
“The toll of destruction and damage in Ukraine is impressive and continues to rise. Support from the international community so far has been impressive […]. The Ukrainian people face a long road to reconstruction and partners will continue their support,” WB Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde was quoted in the statement as saying.
According to estimates made by the institution, “the long-term costs of reconstruction are enormous and well in excess of 100 billion dollars over the next three years”, added Ms.me Bjerd.
This new tranche brings the aid granted by the WB to Ukraine to 13 billion dollars since the beginning of the conflict, of which 11 billion have already been disbursed.
A little earlier in the day, the American Congress also voted a new tranche of aid of 12.3 billion for Ukraine, including approximately 5 billion CAD of military equipment, bringing the total American envelope to more 88 billion CAD since the start of the Russian invasion.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen took the opportunity to call on “other donors not only to speed up their disbursements to Ukraine but also to increase their aid”.
As Ukrainian counter-offensives continue in the northeast and southwest of the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the formal annexation of four currently occupied Ukrainian regions, promising victory in front of several thousand people gathered on Red Square in Moscow.
“America and its allies will not be intimidated” and Vladimir Putin “will not scare us”, replied US President Joe Biden during a speech at the White House, promising that NATO would defend “every centimeter of its territory.