UN chief criticizes US cuts to humanitarian aid, impacting Ukraine

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced strong concerns over the United States' recent reduction in aid to the United Nations, which has led to the suspension of crucial humanitarian assistance in certain regions of Ukraine. 

Guterres specifically highlighted the cuts in US spending on aid, which were implemented under the administration of President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

"The reduction of America’s humanitarian role and influence will run counter to American interests globally," Guterres stated. "I can only hope that these decisions can be reversed based on more careful reviews, and the same applies to other countries that have recently announced reductions in humanitarian and development aid."

According to Guterres, the reductions have had a direct impact on humanitarian operations, particularly in Ukraine. "In Ukraine, cash-based programming - a key feature of the humanitarian response, reaching 1 million people in 2024 - has been suspended in key regions," he explained.

The US government’s cuts to foreign aid have sparked considerable controversy, especially as the Trump administration had previously accused the US Agency for International Development (USAID) of excessive spending on international aid programs.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the administration's position, emphasizing that foreign aid is not charity but must instead serve the strategic interests of the United States. The USAID office in Ukraine was also instructed to halt its programs in line with the broader cuts.

In a related development, the Trump administration announced that it is halting over 90 per cent of foreign aid provided by USAID, signaling a significant shift in the US approach to international assistance.

By Vafa Guliyeva