Espreso. Global

U.S. State Department suspends foreign aid. This may affect Ukraine

Nadia Boianivska
25 January, 2025 Saturday
11:45

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suspended most existing foreign aid grants for 90 days. Order may cut off funding for military aid to Ukraine

client/title.list_title

Politico reports.

According to the document, Rubio's order is effective immediately and requires department officials to issue “stop work orders” for nearly all “existing foreign assistance grants.”

According to three current and two former government officials familiar with the new guidance, no further action will be taken to disperse funds allocated to programs already approved by the U.S. government.

The order has shocked some officials at the ministry, the media outlet writes. At the same time, Politico notes that the document leaves room for interpretation and provides for some exceptions. For example, military funding for Egypt and Israel will continue, and emergency food aid is allowed.

One State Department official, as well as two former Biden administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the pause appears likely to halt aid to key allies such as Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan.

According to current and former government officials, the directive could expose the U.S. government to liability, as unfulfilled contracts could be sued if it is determined that their terms were violated.

The instruction states that “decisions to extend, modify, or terminate programs will be made after consideration” by Rubio, Politico writes.

The outlet adds that the misuse of financial aid to Ukraine is of particular concern to officials who want to help the country defeat Russia.

The State Department is expected to prepare the report within 85 days. It will accompany Rubio's recommendation to Trump on which foreign aid programs to continue and which to terminate.

At the same time, Voice of America correspondent Ostap Yarysh refutes Politico's information.

“The Pentagon tells me the opposite — that this decree does not apply to military support. I don't know what exactly Politico is referring to. I suspect it may be about the FMF program, but the funds allocated to support Ukraine have long been spent,” he wrote in X.

USAID has also suspended projects to support Ukraine, Reuters reports.

The agency reports that an unnamed USAID official stated that officers responsible for projects in Ukraine were ordered to halt all work.

The article states that organizations will have to halt all activities, including vital medical services, HIV/AIDS programs, nutrition, maternal and child health, agricultural work, support for civil society organizations, and education.

  • U.S. President Donald Trump's decree to suspend foreign aid programs for 90 days does not apply to military aid to Ukraine, Kyiv says.

 

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Thursday
13 February
22:00
Exclusive
Heart of Ukraine: interactive Valentine’s Day installation unveiled at Kyiv’s railway station
21:45
Exclusive
'Starved and tortured': freed Azov fighter reveals horrors of Olenivka prison
21:31
Exclusive
Putin, Zelenskyy will not get everything they want, but peace will be achieved — U.S. Defense Secretary
21:20
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, February 5-12
Russian army returns to using armored vehicles near Pokrovsk – Ukrainian military
21:10
OPINION
Operation against Poroshenko: strategic move to divide society
20:57
Exclusive
Ukrainian intelligence destroys Valdai radar near Moscow: expert explains how
20:42
Exclusive
Sanctions against Poroshenko might be politically motivated before elections - MP
20:24
U.S. sanctions ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan who issued Putin arrest warrant
20:11
Exclusive
Ukraine risks future war as Trump rejects NATO membership and security guarantees
19:56
Fico publishes photo with Putin, says calls Ukraine and EU are "losers"
19:40
Exclusive
Many EU politicians see Ukraine ceasefire as done deal — Espreso correspondent from Brussels
19:25
'Nothing discredits Hungarian officials more than their actions': Ukraine’s MFA on Budapest’s accusations
19:10
Exclusive
"Approaching Mariupol, we realized this was a real major invasion": former POW told about city's defense
18:55
Press release
Kostiantyn Zhevago considers sanctions imposed on him illegal - businessman's press service
18:41
Exclusive
Russian military drills ahead of February 24 were wake-up call - released Azov fighter
18:25
'Any deal made behind our backs won’t work': Kaja Kallas on negotiations with Russia
18:07
'Poland, Europe, entire West need full cooperation': Tusk urges ending disputes over Ukraine
17:51
Hungary’s Orbán slams EU statement on Ukraine peace talks as 'worthless'
17:34
Trump must be more realistic on Russia talks — Ukrainian MP on Trump-Putin call
17:16
Trump's British ally Farage backs Ukraine joining NATO despite past criticism
16:54
Russia deliberately targeted Mariupol shelters marked "Children" and "Civilians" — Azov soldier, released from captivity
16:33
Moldova recovers Russian drone wreckage, summons Russian ambassador
16:15
Two newest Russian radar systems explode near Moscow
15:54
Exclusive
No reason to say Ukraine's fate will be decided behind its back — military expert
15:35
China suggests Putin-Trump summit as solution to end war against Ukraine
15:16
Russia denies talks of recognizing Crimea, occupied territories as Russian in Trump-Putin call
14:53
Secret Gravehawk air defense system for Ukraine unveiled – and it's not what you'd expect
14:40
Ukraine’s parliament work blocked by MPs protesting political repression
14:21
Ukraine's role crucial in peace talks after Trump-Putin call, NATO chief says
13:56
Zelenskyy imposes sanctions against Ukraine’s former President Poroshenko
13:38
Exclusive
"Unprecedented case in nuclear energy history": Expert on Ukraine buying reactors from Bulgaria
13:15
Poland warns Ukraine not to expect NATO invitation to “fall from the sky”
12:54
Trump's ex-advisor: Kremlin drinks vodka straight from bottle after Trump-Putin talk
12:35
Around 7,000 civilians remain in Ukraine’s Pokrovsk as evacuation continues
12:15
Review
Return to pre-war borders is unrealistic: New Pentagon chief's statements at Ramstein and Ukraine's stance. Serhiy Zgurets' column
11:52
Russian forces block water and humanitarian aid deliveries to civilians in frontline areas
11:35
"Putin would say he won": Trump says he'll keep supporting Ukraine
11:16
Russian civilians evacuated to Ukraine after Russia’s deadly strike on shelter
10:54
116 clashes occur at front on Feb. 12: Russia launches over 5,000 strikes on Ukraine
10:33
European countries and Ukraine demand a say in any peace talks
More news