A pause with financing in Ukraine projects through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) can last up to six months. In this regard, the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine began negotiations with European partners to ensure alternative sources of funds for the implementation of key programs.
This was reported in the parliamentary committee on humanitarian and information policy. It is noted that negotiations with European colleagues are aimed at preventing the destabilization of key processes in Ukraine.
" Ukrainian organizations and other entities that received grants from USAID had no time to prepare for such sharp changes, ”the committee said.
They explained that in connection with this Ukraine would have to take measures to ensure the work of a number of projects, while an audit of American funding is underway. Support has already turned to European partners.
" But while the audit continues, Ukraine must take operational measures in order to avoid the destabilization of key processes in the state, as well as provide its actions in this direction in the future. At the parliamentary level, consultations with European colleagues on the possible replacement of American assistance have already begun - at least at that time, until the final decisions are made in Washington. At the same time, due to the pause, further normalization of processes can take place in three, four, five, or even six months, ”the statement said.
The committee reminded that with the help of USAID in Ukraine, not only educational, scientific, media, cultural projects were implemented, but also initiatives aimed at helping children and families with children who found themselves in difficult life circumstances due to armed aggression of the Russian Federation. In addition, projects that received American assistance create jobs.
At the same time, the Ministry of Social Policy believes that the suspension of financing USAID projects in Ukraine has not yet had a critical influence on financing the social sphere. The head of the department Oksana Zholnovich explained that Ukraine receives funds for social assistance to the population mainly under other programs.
Recall, on January 24, the US State Department issued an order to “stop working” for all existing foreign assistance and suspended new assistance in fulfilling the order of President Donald Trump. Representatives of the USAID agency, which is responsible for US non -enforcement assistance to other countries, also received an indication of suspending projects related to Ukraine.
After that, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will present Trump's report in which he will indicate which foreign assistance programs should continue and which are finally closed. The purpose of the audit is to evaluate whether each program corresponds to the political goals of the US administration.
Among the frozen projects in Ukraine are school support and healthcare assistance, in particular, urgent assistance to mothers and children's vaccination, USAID employees reported. According to media reports, Ukrainian diplomats and American officials are trying to exclude Ukraine from the action of Trump's directive. In particular, the publication of Financial Times reported that representatives of the US State Department of the US State Department called on the US Secretary of State and Eurasia to consider the possibility of the complete exclusion of Ukraine from the audit, given its critical situation.