The US State Department has temporarily suspended funding for most foreign aid programs, including support for Ukraine. This was reported by POLITICO, citing an order from Republican Senator Marco Rubio.
Why Funding Was Suspended
According to sources, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued new directives on Friday, imposing a 90-day freeze on funding for most international aid programs. This decision affects already approved projects, including programs for Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan. However, exceptions have been made for military support to Israel and Egypt, as well as for emergency food aid.
How This Affects Ukraine
Per Reuters, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been forced to halt funding for several critical initiatives in Ukraine due to this decision. Among the frozen projects are support for educational programs, medical assistance, including child vaccinations, and emergency aid for mothers.
Meanwhile, according to the Pentagon, military aid to Ukraine is not affected by this freeze. Key defense programs, such as the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provide Ukraine with weapons, continue to operate as usual.
Reaction from US Diplomats
As reported by the Financial Times, American diplomats have already approached the State Department requesting an exemption for Ukraine from this order. In internal communications, USAID staff in Ukraine were informed that a final decision has not yet been made, but “positive signals” are coming from Washington.
At the same time, some organizations in Kyiv have already received official instructions to immediately halt work under USAID contracts. This means that a number of humanitarian and infrastructure projects could be at risk.
Scale of Support for Ukraine
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the US has provided Ukraine with significant financial assistance, including:
- $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid;
- $5 billion for development;
- $30 billion in direct budget support.
Funding for these programs has enabled the restoration of Ukrainian schools, medical facilities, and critical infrastructure, including the energy system. If the funding freeze is not lifted, Ukraine will need to seek alternative sources of support.