WASHINGTON, July 15 - The U.S. government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) approved $250 million in political risk insurance on loans to Naftogaz Ukrayiny towards natural gas imports, OPIC reported Friday.

The guarantees will cover the loans from Goldman Sachs International and other investment banks that will be provided to Naftogaz, OPIC said.

The political risk insurance from OPIC is key to enable the lending as Ukraine has been suffering from geopolitical shocks, such as a military conflict in the eastern region against Moscow-backed rebels.