U.S. offers Ukraine $17.7 million in humanitarian aid - White House

A vendor sells fruit, vegetables and homemade food items in central Kiev March 27, 2015. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday about the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine and offered an additional $17.7 million (12 million pound) in aid for essentials like food, shelter and water, the White House said.

Biden and Poroshenko discussed Ukraine's reform efforts, the White House said in a statement.

"The vice president welcomed the appointment of a new head of the anti-corruption bureau and encouraged the further implementation of rule of law reforms, including anti-trust measures and judicial reform," the White House said.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Eric Walsh)