Speeches Shim
The U.S. Government’s partnership with the people of Ukraine is steadfast and enduring, and USAID remains committed to supporting Ukraine and its people in this current crisis. We have worked closely with Ukraine, our European allies, and humanitarian assistance partners to prepare for the emergency that this war has caused and meet immediate and growing humanitarian needs.
USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team—our nation’s finest humanitarian responders—to the region to support the Ukrainian people as they flee Russia’s aggression and to rapidly address critical needs that arise due to ongoing conflict. We have already responded to a range of needs in the lead-up to the invasion, from energy security to countering disinformation to cybersecurity support as Russia attempts to disrupt critical infrastructure and communications. We will continue to assess and ramp up access to primary and trauma medical care, food, and clean water. USAID is also working closely with the U.S. State Department to support Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.
Last updated: April 12, 2022
Today, Administrator Samantha Power spoke with Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe. The Administrator stressed the urgency of the international community standing together against Russia’s unprovoked and premeditated violence against Ukraine.
On Thursday, March 3, 2022, Administrator Power will join the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and the Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition to discuss the U.S. government’s efforts, in coordination with European allies and international partners, to address humanitarian challenges and protect human rights in Ukraine. Administrator Power will open with a conversation with GMF president Heather Conley, which will be followed by a discussion with leading civil society experts from Ukraine and USAID’s Ukraine Mission Director James Hope.
When we were warning about the troop buildup on the other side of Ukraine there were some countries within Europe that were questioning, you know, is that really true? Would Putin really do it? And it was kind of a little bit of wishful thinking in the sense of we don't want to have to impose those costs. You don't want to do them also to the Russian economy. I mean, nobody wakes up in the morning and says, I want to inflict severe economic pain on another country.
Today, Administrator Power and her delegation, which included senior leadership of the Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration, met in Brussels, Belgium, with senior European Union (EU) officials and representatives of EU member states to discuss coordinated efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis resulting from Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
I think the front-line states, those countries bordering Ukraine, including Poland, where I've just come from, are doing everything in their power to position everything from diapers and strollers to hot meals to water to warm blankets. But the real challenge is on the Ukrainian side of the border, where people are just backing up.
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