USA

US Pledges Help to Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew arrives at a press conference where he delivered a closing statement to the media at the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Sydney, Australia, Feb. 23, 2014.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew says Washington is ready to work with Russia and other countries to restore democracy in Ukraine and rebuild its battered economy.

Lew met with his Russian counterpart, Anton Siluanov, on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting in Sydney, Australia to discuss the situation in Ukraine after the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych and the release of opposition leader, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Saturday.

The United States welcomed the latest political developments in Ukraine Saturday and said Tymoshenko's release from prison is particularly gratifying.

A statement from President Barack Obama's press office said U.S. officials "continue to urge an end to violence by all sides" in Ukraine.

The statement said the United States will focus on "peaceful, democratic dialogue" in Ukraine, in cooperation with its allies, Russia, and European and international organizations.