U.S. to back $2 billion in loan guarantees for Ukraine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States plans to provide up to $2 billion (1.31 billion pounds) in loan guarantees to Ukraine this year, the U.S. Treasury said on Tuesday, as part of a broader international package to stave off bankruptcy.

Like other major donors to the country, Treasury said the guarantees would be contingent on the former Soviet republic remaining on track to meet the conditions of its loan program from the International Monetary Fund. IMF officials are in Kiev this week to resume negotiations on the package, currently worth $17 billion.