Trump move stalls $250 million in energy funding for Ukraine
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Energy aid to Ukraine totaling about $250 million, allocated by former US President Joe Biden, has still not been disbursed due to the shutdown of USAID, reports Reuters.
The outlet, citing sources, writes that funds allocated for the import of liquefied natural gas and for the restoration of energy facilities damaged by massive Russian attacks have been left “in limbo.”
USAID, under the previous US president, informed Congress of its intention to allocate at least part of this money. But the Trump administration’s decision to shut down the agency left the funding suspended.
Bureaucratic confusion
Disputes have arisen within the administration over which agency should be responsible for disbursing the aid.
Some officials believe the US State Department should do it, as it has been assigned part of USAID’s functions. Others say the funds should be paid out by the Development Finance Corporation.
Reuters emphasizes that this delay in aid is not related to any pressure on Kyiv, but is the result of bureaucratic confusion in the United States.
Kyiv’s frustration and concerns
The failure to disburse these funds has caused frustration among Ukraine’s allies amid massive Russian strikes on energy facilities during severe frost.
A Ukrainian official told the agency that Kyiv is aware of the delay, but he fears raising the issue publicly, considering the risk of diplomatic tension.
Energy aid to Ukraine
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha recently said that Ukraine has already received energy assistance from 17 countries.
Ukraine has been provided with generators, mobile boiler houses, industrial boilers, and uninterruptible power supply units to ensure the operation of critical and social infrastructure.
Some countries have focused on financial support for Ukraine’s energy sector.
