War-torn Ukraine has received roughly $530 million in US and British grants from a fund set up by the World Bank for donations to the Kyiv government in the wake of Russia’s invasion, the finance ministry said.

The US donated around $500 million and Britain 24 million pounds ($30 million) and the money had now arrived in the state budget, the finance ministry statement late on Thursday said.

“These funds will be directed to providing urgent social, humanitarian and health spending, as well as supporting internally displaced people,” the statement said.

The Senate voted 86 to 11 on Thursday, effectively passing the bill to President Joe Biden for his final signature, reported CNBC. 

The United States has accused Russia of holding the world’s food supply hostage amid growing fears of famine in developing countries, as a former Russian president warned that the Kremlin would not release vital grain shipments without an end to western sanctions.  

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Speaking at a UN security council meeting on Thursday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken demanded that Russia lift its blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and enable the flow of food and fertiliser around the world.

Meanwhile, Russia said it is taking ‘adequate countermeasures’ against Sweden and Finland Nato bid. 

Russia’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, warned that Moscow is taking “adequate countermeasures” in response to Finland and Sweden’s Nato bid. Sweden and Finland joining the alliance have led to an increase in military threats near the border, Shoigu was quoted by Interfax as saying.

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He was also quoted by Ria news agency, which is owned by Russia, as saying that Moscow would respond to these threats by forming 12 new units in its western military district.

Russia will stop gas flows to neighbouring Finland on Saturday morning, Finnish state-owned gas wholesaler Gasum said in a statement.

The company has refused to pay Gazprom Export in roubles as Russia has requested European countries to do.