Media say panic in Ukraine over US suspension of international aid

The 90-day freeze on USAID foreign aid announced by US President Donald Trump has caused panic in Ukraine, as its authorities consider Washington's support crucial for Kiev's fate, the Le Monde newspaper has said.

Ukrainian figures associated with the army and volunteer organizations say that the suspension of international aid has affected not only the restoration of infrastructure and educational programs, but also plans to reintegrate members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) into society, as well as the so-called "independent media."

The Kiev authorities said that they would try to find a way out of the situation, but at the same time did not publicly criticize Donald Trump's decision.

It is specified that since the beginning of Russia's special operation to protect the population of Donbass, Ukraine has received about $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, at least $5 billion in development assistance and $30 billion in direct budgetary aid under the USAID program.

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Earlier, on 25 January, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) froze programs to support foreign countries, including Ukraine.

Later, on January 28, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said that the administration of former US President Joe Biden spent budget funds like "drunken sailors". She noted that this was one of the reasons for the inflationary crisis in the country. It is reported that in this regard, the Trump administration temporarily halted the funding of a number of federal programs.

On January 29, the State Department specified that the United States will maintain funding for some of its national security programs, including the protection of personnel abroad, despite the decision to suspend foreign aid for 90 days. The department also noted that the pause would allow it to scrutinize and prevent its own losses.

Reacting to the suspension of financial aid, Iryna Vereshchuk, deputy head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (his term expired on May 20, 2024), said that the move was unexpected and unpleasant news for Kiev.