Politico: US officials seek to unlock crucial military, economic aid to Ukraine

Senior officials at the U.S. State Department are drafting exemptions to the foreign aid freeze, which could unlock economic and security-related assistance for Ukraine.

The proposed waivers would go beyond those already authorised by Secretary of State Marco Rubio for life-saving aid, such as demining and counter-narcotics programmes, Caliber.Az reports, citing Politico.

It remains unclear whether exemptions will include foreign military financing, with over $4 billion already allocated to Ukraine’s armed forces.

Even if approved, bureaucratic delays and political divisions within the Trump administration could hinder the release of funds. While President Donald Trump has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and sought closer ties with Moscow, some officials, including Rubio and special envoy Keith Kellogg, have been privately critical of Russia.

The exemptions under consideration would cover economic aid, landmine clearance, and civil society support but exclude diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The process, led by senior diplomat Yuri Kim, appears to bypass the State Department’s foreign assistance office, headed by Trump ally Pete Marocco.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has urged Rubio to prioritise aid to Ukraine, warning that the freeze is harming vulnerable communities, including Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

By Aghakazim Guliyev