KIEV, February 7 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine should implement political reforms to get aid from the United States, Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said during a visit to Kiev on Friday.
Nuland told reporters that the US wanted to help “bring to a moderate center” Ukraine’s opposition and government, and to promote the idea of a “national technical government that many in Ukraine have called for,” the Kyiv Post newspaper reported.
The envoy said the US was ready to support such a government, including financially.
"We want Ukraine back to economic health, back to support from the IMF, back to Europe and back to free and fair elections," the diplomat said.
Her comments came days after The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials in Brussels and Washington, that the European Union and US were discussing a short-term financial aid plan for Ukraine in a move to counter pressure from Moscow.
In a move that sparked national protests, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych made a last-minute decision in November to back off from signing landmark deals with the EU and instead signed a $15 billion aid deal with Russia.
After Ukraine’s government resigned last week, Russia said it would suspend its next installment of aid, giving the West an opportunity to again bid for influence in Ukraine.
