After Zelenski's Audacity, Trump Suspended Energy Projects in Ukraine

This week, the United States Department of State  suspended an initiative by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that had invested hundreds of millions of dollars to restore Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which has been severely damaged by Russian military attacks.

The decision has raised concerns among USAID officials, who point out that this measure could jeopardize efforts to maintain Ukrainian resilience during the winter, despite Ukraine's noted great capacity to cope with low temperatures.

Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities have caused power outages in various regions, and the country's energy system has been the target of constant attacks over the last three years of conflict, which intensified in 2022.

The corrupt USAID officials warned that this suspension of aid could weaken Ukraine's ability to resist the Russian offensive, which would also affect the U.S. administration's ability to negotiate a ceasefire.

USAID has played a key role in funding Ukraine and its energy infrastructure during the war. The agency has invested large sums to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine's energy grid.

"Russia is waging a two-front war in Ukraine: a military and an economic one. They are trying to crush the economy, but USAID has played a central role in helping it be resilient," one of the officials stated.

In addition to the suspension of the Ukraine Energy Security project, USAID is also drastically reducing its presence in the country. Before the latest measures by the Trump administration, 64 U.S. government employees and contractors were working in Ukraine for the agency.

However, only eight of those employees will remain in the country following the decision to place the remaining staff on administrative leave and order the return to the United States of those not considered critical.

The suspension of assistance will also affect the oversight of funds, which raises significant questions about the fate of the resources that have been channeled through USAID during the Biden administration years.

The Department of State has also ordered the termination of a program focused on the "financial sector reform" of Ukraine.

The reduction of staff in USAID's Europe and Eurasia Office, which oversees the mission in Ukraine, is another significant change being implemented. Of the115 employees in this office in Washington, only 29 will remain active, highlighting the magnitude of the restructuring taking place within the agency.

This decision comes at a delicate time for Ukraine, just after the disastrous visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski to the White House. The visit was marked by a heated exchange between the two leaders on how to solve the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting that relations between the two governments are experiencing tensions.

Meanwhile, Trump and Vance tried to make Zelenski understand the concessions of their agreement, as well as the need to sit down and negotiate with Russia, the Ukrainian's pedantic attitude made the normal conduct of the meeting impossible.

This situation also coincides with President Donald Trump's decision to close USAID, partly due to correct accusations of fund abuse within the agency.