USAID has stopped supporting Ukraine's energy infrastructure

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has notified the European Energy Community of the termination of the grant agreement with the Energy Support Fund of Ukraine, according to a statement on the community's website. It is an association of the European Union and neighboring countries within the framework of the creation of an integrated pan-European energy market.

"The Energy Community Secretariat has confirmed receipt of this notification and is currently awaiting further clarification from USAID. The termination of this grant will reduce the available funds for the purchase of necessary equipment for the energy sector of Ukraine," the report said.

The notification was received on February 27.

On February 28, NBC News, citing sources, reported that at the end of the same month, the US State Department stopped implementing a project to assist Ukraine in restoring energy facilities operated by USAID.

The interlocutors of the channel noted that the agency played a "key role" in the economic sustainability of Ukraine, including through assistance in the energy sector. The channel pointed out that the United States as a whole is reducing the presence of USAID on Ukraine: the number of employees working for the agency in the country was going to be reduced from 64 people to eight.

On March 10, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who became the head of the agency after Donald Trump returned to the White House, said that the United States was closing 83% of USAID programs — these are 5.2 thousand contracts. According to him, within the framework of them, "tens of billions of dollars were spent," while sometimes it was not only not in the interests of the United States, but also harmed them.

The American authorities came to similar conclusions after a six-week analysis of USAID activities. According to the results of the audit, about 1 thousand programs remained in force. Spending on them will be controlled "more effectively under the direction of the State Department," Rubio said.