The below is attributable to Spokesperson Rebecca Chalif:
Today, Administrator Power spoke with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Pekka Haavisto, to discuss shared concerns about the increasing humanitarian needs following the Kremlin’s continued unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
Administrator Power provided updates on the United States’ humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians in need and from her trip to the Polish-Ukrainian border last week. The two discussed the Poland-based USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) who are leading the U.S. humanitarian response, and the initial commitment of nearly $54 million in additional humanitarian assistance from the United States to provide critically needed health care, safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene supplies, and protection for vulnerable children. The Administrator noted the critical importance of the Russian forces allowing safe passage into and out of besieged cities, as well as the need to accelerate efforts to assist Moldova, which is already under stress from the large numbers of refugees they have welcomed from the south of Ukraine.
Administrator Power thanked Minister Haavisto for Finland’s commitment to Ukraine and expressed gratitude to Europe for its leadership in responding to the rising needs of Ukrainians, including the generous contributions of both in-kind and monetary assistance announced this week.