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: May 06, 2022
Russia’s belligerence toward peaceful neighbors and its desire to turn back the clock on decades of development and democratic progress across Europe and Eurasia, as Isobel said, must be met by concerted, united response. That’s what we have done up to this point collectively, but the sky's the limit I think on where we take these partnerships in the days ahead.
No one knows this better than Ambassador Erin McKee, and I am confident that her leadership of this critical bureau will allow USAID to mount an urgently needed defense of values that we hold dear, the same values that Ukrainians are fighting for right now: a desire for deeper economic integration, a commitment to fairness over corruption and greed, and a profound desire to live freely and self-govern.
Today, the Biden Administration announced that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are taking the extraordinary step to draw down the full balance of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust (BEHT) as part of an effort to provide $670 million in food assistance to countries in need as a result of Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The world is suffering from historic levels of global food insecurity, which is being exacerbated by the impact Russia's war on Ukraine is having on global food supplies. Available estimates suggest that an additional 40 million people could be pushed into poverty and food insecurity as a result of Russia’s aggression.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs for Meta, to discuss Meta’s efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation. During the meeting, Administrator Power discussed USAID’s support for strengthening information integrity and civil society organizations working to combat coordinated disinformation, including falsehoods propagated by the Kremlin and its proxies about Russia's war in Ukraine. Administrator Power and Clegg discussed opportunities for Meta to enhance engagement with governments and civil society in countries that face especially severe mis- and disinformation threats, as well as areas for future investment to build the resilience of digital information ecosystems in these countries.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, Saulos Chilima. Administrator Power and Vice President Chilima discussed the impacts that Tropical Storm Ana and the Ukraine-Russia conflict have had on Malawi and the importance of public sector reforms.
On April 26, Administrator Power met the Mayor of Warsaw, Poland, Rafał Trzaskowski to discuss the ongoing flow of refugees from Ukraine into Poland, now numbering nearly 3 million people. Administrator Power thanked Mayor Trzaskowski and the Polish people for their tremendous generosity and continued assistance for Ukrainian refugees who fled Russia’s brutal invasion and are now living in Warsaw and other Polish cities. The two discussed opportunities for the United States and the international community to further support Polish cities welcoming refugees, especially in providing access to education. The Administrator also noted Poland's support in hosting USAID staff and operations where teams are continuing work on development programs and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. The Administrator expressed continued support for the strong ties between the United States and Poland.
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