White House promises Ukraine $335 mln in 'security assistance'

While Washington supports Ukraine's pro-Western government, it has been concerned about corruption in Kyiv. Those concerns were addressed in part earlier this week when Ukraine's parliament sacked the country's chief prosecutor, who allegedly was stalling high-profile corruption investigations. The White House said Biden told Poroshenko that more aid will come if he keeps up efforts to install a new reform-minded government. An attempt earlier this week to form a new governing coalition failed after one faction raised demands that would have rolled back some reforms sought by the West. "The vice president welcomed the efforts...to form a stable, reform-oriented government, and stressed that this step, as well as the enactment of needed reforms, are critical to unlocking international economic assistance, including the third 1 billion US dollar loan guarantee," the White House said. The sides agreed that for the implementation of a political part of the Minsk agreements, Russia should carry out all the terms in the field of security. They also agreed that sanctions against Russia should be extended till Russia implements the Minsk agreements in full. Vice President Biden assured of US firm position on the non-recognition of Crimea’s annexation.