U.S. Treasury says no indication that U.S. funds were misused in Ukraine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday said it had no indication that U.S. funds had been misused in Ukraine, but would continue to work closely with Ukrainian authorities to ensure appropriate safeguards were in place to avert corruption.

It was the Treasury's first comment on the issue after Ukraine's government last week dismissed a slew of senior officials in the country's biggest political shake-up of the war following corruption allegations.

"We have no indication that U.S. funds have been misused in Ukraine," Treasury spokesperson Megan Apper said in response to a query from Reuters. "We welcome the ongoing efforts by the Ukrainian authorities to work with us to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place so that U.S assistance reaches those for whom it is intended."

Apper said the Treasury would continue to work closely with the World Bank on tracking U.S. disbursements "to confirm that they are used as intended, as well as with Ukraine and other partners to tackle corruption."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Heather Timmons and Jonathan Oatis)

By Andrea Shalal