**Ukraine‘s Energy Grid May Suffer from Trump Aid Freeze**
The US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause foreign aid may harm Ukraine’s ability to rebuild energy facilities damaged by Russian attacks.
On January 20, Trump issued an executive order that puts a 90-day freeze on all US foreign development assistance. This includes programs under the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
The aid freeze could affect Ukraine’s efforts to rebuild damaged energy infrastructure, conduct demining operations, and fund civil society programs, according to Maksym Samoiliuk, an economist at the Kyiv-based Center for Economic Strategy.
**Ukrainian Officials Concerned**
Ukrainian officials are concerned about the impact of Trump’s order. Roksolana Pidlasa, chair of the Verkhovna Rada’s budget committee, said that while some types of aid have already been secured under former President Joe Biden, the freeze still poses a risk to Ukraine’s energy grid.
“We’re secured in terms of budget funding,” she said. “But the question is how exactly this decree will be implemented.”
**US Senator Slams Trump**
US Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat, also slammed Trump for issuing the order during winter amid Ukraine’s ongoing energy crisis. “Does that mean that we will abandon Ukraine in the middle of winter?” he asked.
Russia continues to target Ukrainian energy infrastructure, with one of its largest attacks on the country’s electric grid taking place in December 2024.
**Other Aid Still Available**
While a pause on USAID funding could put some projects at risk, other types of aid have already been secured under former President Joe Biden. Trump’s freeze does not apply to weapons or $20 million in loans backed by frozen Russian asset revenues allocated for Ukraine last fall.
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