The following is attributable to USAID Deputy Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:
Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman traveled to Ukraine this week to reaffirm the U.S. government's commitment to support the people and Government of Ukraine amid Putin's brutal and senseless war.
The Deputy Administrator met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and discussed ways to support Ukraine's rapid recovery needs, including rebuilding energy infrastructure. They committed to prioritize efforts to support the economy of Ukraine.
The Deputy Administrator met with Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Restoration Oleksandr Kubrakov to discuss Ukraine's reconstruction priorities, including critical infrastructure and housing, and the necessity of strong transparency and accountability. They also discussed the importance of extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative to ensure that Ukrainian farmers can play their critical role in feeding the world.
Deputy Administrator Coleman met with Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko to discuss the safeguards in place to ensure direct budget support from the U.S. government achieves its intended purpose. The Deputy Administrator and Minister Marchenko discussed how accountability and transparency must remain an utmost priority both to protect U.S. taxpayer dollars and to ensure the funds continue to meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian people.
Deputy Administrator Coleman met with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov to discuss USAID's ongoing support for Ukraine's digital transformation. She witnessed a demonstration of the Ministry's cutting edge Diia app that enables citizens to quickly and efficiently access government services during wartime, even from outside the country.
Deputy Administrator Coleman met with Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klychko. They discussed Ukraine's reform efforts, particularly around decentralization, and USAID's continuing support for the city of Kyiv, including energy equipment to help repair heating infrastructure damaged by Russia's strikes and equipment for energy workers and first responders.
Deputy Administrator Coleman participated in the handover of a mobile power plant purchased from General Electric (GE), capable of providing sufficient electricity to power up as many as 100,000 Ukrainian homes. At the handover ceremony, attended by Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko and Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the Deputy Administrator acknowledged the heroism demonstrated by energy sector workers across the country who are working around the clock to repair the damage caused by Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure.
The Deputy Administrator visited first responders employed by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, some of the nearly 57,000 emergency responders receiving their salaries with help from USAID's direct budget support to the Government of Ukraine. Deputy Administrator Coleman visited Save Ukraine, a USAID-supported local organization that has helped evacuate vulnerable people from the front lines and protect children's rights. She also led a discussion with ACTED, an NGO partner that distributes USAID cash assistance to help war-affected Ukrainians pay for housing, food, and other basic necessities.
The Deputy Administrator met with Deloitte to discuss ways to further strengthen the Ukrainian government's transparency and accountability efforts regarding direct budget support from the U.S. government.
The Deputy Administrator met with the UN's Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown and UN World Food Program Country Representative Matthew Hollingworth to discuss humanitarian conditions along frontline areas in eastern Ukraine. They also discussed humanitarian access to non-governmental controlled areas and joint collaboration between the Government of Ukraine, humanitarian agencies, and international donors. The group discussed the targeted Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and the potential for large civilian displacement if attacks continue.
Deputy Administrator Coleman met with leading Ukrainian anti-corruption activists to underscore that addressing corruption remains a critical component of USAID's efforts to support Ukraine's recovery. The Deputy Administrator then met with some of USAID's Foreign Service Nationals to thank them for their commitment and acknowledge their resilience as they continue to work through Putin's war against Ukraine.
The Deputy Administrator visited a USAID and UNICEF-supported garment factory that is producing winter clothing for internally-displaced children across Ukraine and employing hundreds of internally displaced people from local communities. In recent weeks, the factory has produced more than 16,000 garment kits for children in the newly-liberated Kherson region and another 19,000 more throughout Ukraine. At the factory, Deputy Administrator Coleman affirmed USAID's sustained commitment to responding to Ukraine's humanitarian needs, including through local partnerships. She also visited Rito, a woman-owned business that designs and manufactures clothing. USAID helped the company obtain export certifications and showcase its designs at New York Fashion Week in 2022 amid the economic disruption caused by Russia's war.
The Deputy Administrator announced USAID's plans, working with Congress, to invest up to an additional $60 million to strengthen Ukraine's cybersecurity capabilities, protect critical infrastructure from the Kremlin's cyberattacks and foster Ukraine's broader digital transformation.
