G7 pledges billions for Ukraine 'to get through this'

Buses carrying service members of Ukrainian forces who have surrendered after weeks holed up at Azovstal steel works drive away under escort of the pro-Russian military in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in Mariupol, Ukraine May 17, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

KYIV/SLATYNE, Ukraine (Reuters) - The Group of Seven agreed on Thursday to provide Ukraine with $18.4 billion to pay its bills, funds that Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said would speed up Kyiv's victory over Russia and which were just as important as "the weapons you provide".

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told reporters at the G7 finance leaders' meeting in Germany: "The message was, 'We stand behind Ukraine. We're going to pull together with the resources that they need to get through this.'"