Biden, Poroshenko discuss Ukraine situation

Vice President Joe Biden spoke on Monday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about the situation in the east and Ukraine’s reform agenda, the Office of the Vice President announced.
Biden informed Poroshenko that the United States will provide the government of Ukraine with an additional 17.7 million dollars in humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations including shelter, health and sanitation support, food vouchers and potable water, the announcement said.
The two welcomed efforts by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to negotiate permanent cease-fires in areas where fighting continues, and called on Russia to abide by terms of the Minsk agreements and stop the transfer of heavy weapons into Ukraine and massing of troops along the international border, the statement said.
They also discussed Ukraine’s reform efforts, and Biden welcomed the appointment of a new head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and encouraged further implementation of rule of law reforms, including anti-trust measures and judicial reform, it said.