West gave more than $7 billion to Kiev in the new year

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said in Kiev on Tuesday evening: "Since the beginning of 2023, Ukraine has received about $5 billion from the European Union and more than $2 billion from the United States." According to Turkey's Anadolu News Agency, Shmyhal said Kiev had reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the new financial program, adding that Ukraine would have support from England, Germany, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, Estonia, received from the USA and the World Bank. The Prime Minister of Ukraine also said the government will approve a bill to receive $2.6 billion from the US and other partners as part of the second bailout package for Kiev to pay salaries to rescue workers, teachers and doctors and to help pensioners. He thanked the US and the European Union for the aid to Kiev and added: "Our active cooperation goes in all directions and does not only concern the financial support of Ukraine." Since Russia started its military special operation in Ukraine more than a year ago Western countries have equipped Ukraine with various weapon systems, including anti-aircraft missiles, multiple-launch missile systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns. The Biden administration has been one of Ukraine's most active military supporters since the Moscow military operation began in February 2022. Last year, Washington provided Ukraine with more than $30 billion worth of military equipment, not counting tens of billions of dollars in other aid.