Ukraine is unhappy with Donald Trump's decision to freeze all aid to foreign countries for 90 days. However, politicians and experts believe that Kiev can avoid the worst of this action.
“In terms of budget financing, we are assured. The administration of former President Joe Biden transferred all funds of about $50 billion to the World Bank,” Roksolana Pidlasa, head of the budget committee in the Ukrainian parliament, told POLITICO.
Ukraine's military aid will also not be affected as Trump's executive order applies to international assistance under "development programs" of United Nations agencies, peacekeeping initiatives and refugee support programs, Ukraine's State Counterintelligence Center said in a statement.
The executive order that Trump signed on Monday does not specify what kind of US foreign aid programs it will freeze.
"The foreign aid industry and bureaucracy of the United States are not aligned with American interests and in many cases are contrary to American values. They serve to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly contrary to harmonious and stable relations within and between countries," Trump's decision states.
Trump's order appears to primarily target programs run by USAID, responsible for providing $22 billion in civilian and development assistance.
This also harms Ukraine as it includes initiatives such as the restoration of bombed energy facilities and mine clearance, Ukrainian experts point out to Politico.
The US is the No. 1 donor of civilian and military aid to Ukraine, although Europe combined gives more. Trump has repeatedly criticized US aid to Ukraine, claiming that Europe should pay more and calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the "biggest sellout." (A2 Televizion)
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