US Vice President Kamala Harris announced during the Summit for Peace in Ukraine and a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi that the United States will provide more than $1.5 billion through USAID and the State Department to support the people of Ukraine, the White House reports.
“From USAID, this involves $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirection of $324 million of previously announced funds to Ukraine’s emergency energy needs. This funding will restore war-damaged energy infrastructure, expand power generation, encourage private sector investment, and protect energy infrastructure. These efforts will help Ukraine respond to the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by supporting repairs and restoration, increasing Ukraine’s resilience to energy disruptions, and laying the groundwork for the recovery and expansion of Ukraine’s energy system,” the statement said.
In addition, Harris announced the allocation of more than $379 million in humanitarian aid from the state and USAID to meet the urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons and communities affected by Russia’s war against the Ukrainian people.
“This support includes food aid, medical services, housing, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene services for millions of vulnerable Ukrainians within the country and in the region. Assistance also supports comprehensive protection measures, including case management and psychosocial support, as well as agricultural and livelihood assistance to enable families to restore income and meet their basic needs,” the White House said.
The US State Department, in cooperation with Congress, should also provide an additional $300 million as assistance in the field of civil security for Ukraine, in particular for rescue equipment for Ukrainian border guards and law enforcement agencies.
“This support will help them work safely on the front lines of the war, protecting the territory of Ukraine, rescuing civilians who have been attacked by the Kremlin, protecting critical infrastructure and investigating more than 120,000 registered cases of war and other crimes,” the message emphasizes.
The funds are part of a larger foreign aid package initiated by US President Joseph Biden to support the people of Ukraine as the Russian Federation continues its attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure that have killed an estimated 11,000 people and displaced millions. They lost electricity, heat, water and other basic utilities.
