Ukrainian Social Policy Ministry is recipient of 2 USAID-backed projects with suspended funding

MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Social Policy Ministry is the recipient of two projects backed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

"As of now, the Social Policy Ministry is the recipient of two international technical assistance projects financially supported via USAID," the ministry said in response to a Ukrainian media inquiry.

These are the project of "Support for Digital Transformation" aimed to expand Ukraine's digital capabilities and the project of "Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure" aimed to enhance the resilience of national critical infrastructure to cyberattacks.

"Financing of these projects has been suspended. The Social Policy Ministry is analyzing the impact from the decision to suspend the programs funded by the U.S. government through USAID and working to compensate for the expenditures of certain programs with budget funds and, partially, with support of partners, including those European," the ministry said.

As reported, USAID in Ukraine has been told to suspend funding for all projects due to the U.S. State Department's order to halt foreign aid programs for 90 days.

Earlier, the U.S. Department of State announced an immediate extensive pause in foreign aid. The department is due to draft a report within 85 days since the order was given as a supplement to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recommendations for President Donald Trump as to which foreign aid programs should be continued and which should stop. The U.S. presidential administration placed about a hundred USAID employees on forced leave in early February while it explores USAID reorganization options.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Justice Minister Olga Stefanishina said on February 7 that preliminary decisions had been made on how to fund certain programs formerly financed by USAID.

For instance, the Sport Ministry is the beneficiary of one project and the recipient of two other projects funded by the U.S. government via USAID. The Digital Transformation Ministry is continuing digital projects launched in a partnership with USAID, while looking for funding alternatives in case agency programs are not resumed after the three-month audit. The Culture Ministry is the beneficiary of four projects and programs and the recipient of one project held in cooperation with USAID.