U.S. State Department preparing list of exceptions to partially unfreeze aid to Kyiv

Politico reported the information, citing sources and a document. 

According to the report, if the exceptions are approved, they will go beyond the restrictions that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio allowed for "life-saving" assistance worldwide. 

However, it is emphasized that it is still unclear whether such an exception will be made for foreign military funding controlled by the State Department for Ukraine.

According to the document obtained by Politico, the exceptions concern various programs, from general economic aid to landmine clearance, health programs, and anti-drug initiatives. 

"It is unclear whether additional aid will reach Kyiv even with the new exceptions, given that already approved humanitarian aid refusals have largely been blocked," the report concludes.

What preceded it

On his first day in office, U.S. President Donald Trump decided to temporarily suspend all U.S. foreign aid programs for 90 days for review. The Center for Countering Desinformation stated that this decree does not apply to military aid to Ukraine. On January 24, media reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suspended the issuance of most foreign aid grants for 90 days, noting that the order might affect Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied the information that the U.S. had stopped military aid to Ukraine.

U.S. diplomats urgently requested the exclusion of programs related to Ukraine from the 90-day foreign aid freeze issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

On January 26, media, citing sources, reported that USAID had been instructed to suspend all projects in Ukraine. The White House Budget Office ordered the suspension of all federal grants and loans. A U.S. federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's administration decision to suspend funding for foreign aid programs and grant payments.

• On Thursday, February 27, Russian and U.S. representatives will meet in Istanbul to discuss, among other things, embassy operations.