G7 countries to provide $19.8 billion in aid to Ukraine

By FATIMA HUSSEIN and GEIR MOULSON
Associated Press

KOENIGSWINTER, Germany (AP) — The Group of Seven leading economies have agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to Ukraine to ensure its finances do not hinder its ability to defend itself from Russia’s invasion. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner told reporters Friday that $9.5 billion of that amount was mobilized at meetings of the G-7 finance ministers this week. He says that “we need to do our utmost to end this war.” Russia’s invasion touched on almost every topic of the finance ministers’ meetings this week, from the need to reduce reliance on Russian energy to reforming relationships between countries to maintain economic stability.