US diplomats have urgently sought an exemption for Ukraine-related programs from a 90-day freeze on foreign aid and “stop work” orders implemented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to internal documents and sources familiar with the situation.
Citing national security concerns, senior officials in the state department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs have requested that Rubio issue a full waiver to exclude the operations of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Ukraine from the sweeping directive that became effective immediately following its issuance.
An email to USAID staff in Ukraine indicated that there were positive signals regarding the approval of this request but did not provide certainty on whether it would be granted fully or partially.
In defiance of Rubio’s directive, USAID in Ukraine has delayed enforcing “stop work” orders while seeking clarification for its partners, as noted in the email and by officials within partnered organizations.
The agency has instructed staff to evaluate their programs to ensure alignment with the secretary of state’s goal to enhance US safety, strength, and prosperity. However, by Saturday evening in Kyiv, some organizations began to receive “stop work” orders. One such notification directed a contractor to immediately halt work under the USAID/Ukraine contract or task order until further written notice.
The state department, USAID, and the US embassy in Kyiv have not responded to requests for comment.
An internal cable sent on Friday to the state department and USAID revealed that Rubio mandated a suspension of all new foreign aid disbursements, directing contracting and grant officers to issue “stop-work orders” until further review.
This review process is anticipated to take up to 85 days, placing the future of hundreds of US foreign aid contracts—valued over $70 billion in the previous fiscal year—into uncertainty. Officials and NGO personnel in Ukraine have cautioned that, without a waiver, vital programs supporting schools, hospitals, and infrastructure are at risk due to the freeze.
A program director from an NGO in Kyiv expressed concern that the funding halt could severely impact their organization and Ukraine’s ongoing efforts. Although there are exceptions to Rubio’s directive, such as approved waivers for military funding for Israel and Egypt, no mention of an exemption for Ukraine has been made despite its reliance on US military assistance to confront Russia.
Inquiries to the state department and the US embassy in Kyiv for clarification regarding the military aid freeze have gone unanswered. However, a Ukrainian government official confirmed that US military assistance remains unaffected by the freeze order, stating that “Military aid to Ukraine is intact” for now.
To date, the US has allocated approximately $65.9 billion in military aid to Kyiv following Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
Former President Trump has voiced skepticism regarding US military support for Ukraine, questioning President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s capability in securing military resources. This week, Trump proposed a potential negotiation between Kyiv and Moscow, suggesting Zelenskyy had “had enough” of the conflict and threatening President Vladimir Putin with additional sanctions unless he agreed to discussions on a ceasefire.
photo credit: www.ft.com
