USAID confirms termination of all aid programs to Ukraine

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced the suspension of its assistance projects in Ukraine.

The announcement, made through the agency's Kyiv office, comes amid shifting priorities within the U.S. government regarding foreign aid, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.

Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, USAID has provided significant support to Ukraine, including $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, $5 billion in development assistance, and more than $30 billion in direct budgetary support.

The suspension follows a directive from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reported by Politico, to halt nearly all foreign aid programs for a period of 90 days. The order includes exceptions for military funding programs for Israel and Egypt, but it leaves the future of aid to Ukraine, as well as other countries like Jordan and Taiwan, in uncertainty.

Sources cited by Politico noted that the suspension could lead to a reevaluation of U.S. assistance to Ukraine, with decisions about whether to continue or modify programs expected after a comprehensive review by the U.S. State Department.

The suspension of USAID projects represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign aid strategy at a time of political and economic challenges domestically and abroad. The situation remains fluid, with further updates anticipated following the State Department's review.

USAID, established in 1961, maintains regional missions across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. According to USAID Ukraine’s website, since Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the agency has provided $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid to Kyiv and directed $5 billion in development assistance. An additional $30 billion was allocated as direct budget support. The agency currently supports 29 different sectors across 158 countries worldwide, including economic growth and trade, humanitarian assistance, education, energy, infrastructure, and technology.

By Khagan Isayev