Yellen tells EU that Biden is committed to Ukraine budget funding

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen meets with Mexican business leaders during her visit in Mexico City, Mexico December 6, 2023. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reassured top European Union officials on Wednesday that the Biden administration was "firmly committed" to its request for Congress to approve $11.8 billion in budget aid for Ukraine, saying failure to do so would hand a victory to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Congress must act quickly to provide support to Ukraine, including through direct budget assistance," Yellen said at the start of a bilateral meeting with EU executive vice presidents Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis in Washington.