Vice President Kamala Harris has announced that the United States will give more than $1.5 billion to Ukraine. This money will help with Ukraine’s energy problems and the difficult situations people are facing because of the ongoing war with Russia.
Details of the Aid Package
- Energy Sector Support:
- $500 million in new funding: This money is meant to help fix Ukraine’s energy systems quickly, especially after recent attacks by Russia.
- $324 million redirected from previously announced funds: This money was already promised before but will now be used to fix and improve Ukraine’s energy systems. It will help repair the damage and make Ukraine’s energy supply more reliable.
- Humanitarian Assistance:
- More than $379 million: This money will come from the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). It will be used to help refugees and other people who are suffering because of the war. This includes providing food, health services, shelter, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.
- Civil Security Support:
- $300 million: This money will be used to support Ukraine’s civil security. It will provide equipment to Ukrainian border guards and law enforcement officers to help keep the country safe.
Background and Context
This announcement was made during the Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland. At this summit, Harris met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She also planned to speak to the summit’s attendees.
Harris’s visit to the summit was short, lasting less than 24 hours. She was there in place of President Joe Biden, who was just finishing his participation in the G7 summit in Italy and was returning to the United States for a fundraiser in Los Angeles.
President Biden and President Zelenskyy had met both at the G7 summit, where they signed a US-Ukraine bilateral security agreement and in France, where they attended events marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in World War II.
Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, will represent the US at the summit on the following Sunday. He will help set up working groups focused on bringing back Ukrainian children from Russia and on improving energy security.
Statements from Kamala Harris
Vice President Harris expressed strong support for Ukraine. She said, “This war remains an utter failure for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.” She emphasized that it is important to uphold international norms and pledged continued US support for Ukraine.
Purpose of the Aid
The aid package is part of a larger effort by President Biden to support Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, the US has provided more than $3.2 billion in humanitarian aid and almost $1.5 billion to help Ukraine’s energy sector recover.
Impact on Ukraine
These funds will help Ukraine in several ways:
- They will help repair the energy infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.
- They will improve Ukraine’s resilience to disruptions in energy supply.
- They will support the recovery and expansion of Ukraine’s energy system.
- They will provide vital humanitarian aid to millions of Ukrainians affected by the war.
- They will enhance Ukraine’s security by supporting its border guards and law enforcement.
The US is showing strong support for Ukraine through this significant financial aid package. This aid will address both immediate and long-term needs, helping Ukraine recover and build a stronger, more resilient future. Vice President Harris’s announcement at the Ukraine peace summit underscores the commitment of the US to stand by Ukraine in its time of need.
