DHAKA: US Secretary of State John Kerry landed in Kiev on Tuesday for talks with Ukraine’s interim government, amid an escalating crisis in Crimea.

Officials travelling with Kerry said the United States would offer US$1 billion to financially-stricken Ukraine as part of an international loan during his brief visit.

The Straits Times publishes this report on Tuesday.

BDST: 1851 HRS, MAR 04, 2014