Readout of the Vice President’s Meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk

Vice President Joe Biden met today with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk to discuss Ukraine’s process of government formation, its reform agenda, the situation in the east, and energy security. The Vice President congratulated the Prime Minister on initialling a coalition agreement, which will allow Ukraine to move ahead with delivering on reforms for the Ukrainian people. The Vice President underscored that the United States would work with its partners and the IMF to help secure the financial support Ukraine needs as it stabilizes its economy and pursues necessary reforms. The two leaders also discussed the situation in the east, and the Vice President noted that the United States would work with its European and G-7 partners to increase the costs to Russia if it continues on its current course of blatantly violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its obligations under the Minsk agreement.