Diplomats urge Rubio to exempt Ukraine from US aid halt order

The publication refers to senior officials from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the US State Department. It is noted that Rubio's decision concerns the funding for social infrastructure and economic development in Ukraine through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

According to the Financial Times, USAID in Ukraine received an order to "stop-work on existing USAID grants and contracts." Diplomats have reached out to the US Secretary of State, urging an exception for Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of this for US national security.

"We do not know at this time whether this request will be approved — in whole or in part — but there are positive signals from Washington," reads an email sent to USAID staff in Ukraine on Saturday, January 25.

The publication adds that USAID in Ukraine has temporarily suspended issuing orders to halt work while the request for an exception is under consideration.

Officials and NGO workers in Ukraine are warning that without Rubio's approval, the school and hospital support programs, as well as assistance for economic and energy infrastructure development, could be at risk of disruption.

Trump froze foreign aid

As a reminder, upon taking office, US President Donald Trump signed a decree temporarily suspending all foreign aid programs for 90 days. The programs are being reviewed to determine whether they align with his political goals.

The Pentagon has assured that this does not apply to military aid to Ukraine.

The US State Department also issued an order freezing existing international aid and suspending new aid. As a result, some humanitarian aid to Ukraine has been frozen.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that US military aid to Ukraine will not be suspended.