$1.5 Billion in New Aid for Ukraine Announced by US During Swiss Peace Summit
The Biden administration announced that $1.5 billion in funds will be used to repair and expand Ukraine’s energy sector and provide humanitarian services. This aid package is aimed at helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s attack.
The new assistance includes $500 million for energy assistance and reassigning $324 million toward emergency energy infrastructure repair through the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled the aid package at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
USAID stated that the funding will help repair and expand energy infrastructure, encourage private sector investment, and protect energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
In addition to the energy sector, over $379 million in humanitarian assistance will be provided to address the urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict-affected communities in Ukraine.
The aid package also includes support for food assistance, health services, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene services, protection activities, agriculture, livelihoods assistance, and more.
Furthermore, the State Department plans to provide an additional $300 million in Ukrainian civilian security assistance to support life-saving equipment for Ukrainian border guards and law enforcement.
Since the start of the conflict over two years ago, the U.S. has allocated nearly $1.5 billion to support Ukraine’s energy sector.
President Biden, along with Vice President Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, have been actively engaged in providing support to Ukraine. Biden recently met with Zelenskyy at the G7 summit and in France for World War Two D-Day events.
Sullivan will continue to represent the U.S. at the summit and work on establishing working groups on returning Ukrainian children from Russia and enhancing energy security.
Reuters contributed to this report.
From NTD News
