The below is attributable to Spokesperson Jessica Jennings:
On October 6, Administrator Samantha Power arrived in Kyiv for a visit to convey the United States’ steadfast support for the people of Ukraine. The Administrator was the first senior U.S. official to visit the country following the Russian Federation’s sham referenda and illegal attempts at annexation of Ukrainian territory.
Administrator Power began the day by joining Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko in a visit to a Kyiv neighborhood and school damaged by Russian missiles. During her visit, Administrator Power announced an additional $55 million investment in Ukraine’s heating infrastructure that will help support repairs of pipes and heating equipment across the country. This assistance will directly help up to seven million Ukrainians across 19 regions. During the visit, Administrator Power met with Ukrainian youth to hear about their aspirations for the future of their country and the hardships caused by the Russian Federation’s unprovoked war. She also visited a makeshift bomb shelter under the school where 750 people had sought safety from Russian missiles.
Administrator Power met with the team at Drone.AU and learned about how they use drones to remotely apply fertilizer and pesticides, saving resources and increasing yields while keeping farmers safe from possible landmines. She then spoke with local farmers to hear firsthand how the war has affected their livelihoods and how USAID support is helping them during the crisis. Ukraine’s agricultural sector has been severely impacted by Putin’s war, impacting food supplies across the globe. USAID established a $100 million initiative, AGRI-Ukraine, to support the most critical needs of farmers.
Administrator Power then met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Administrator Power reaffirmed the U.S. government’s unwavering commitment to help the people of Ukraine defend their democracy and sovereignty, and reiterated that the United States will never recognize Russia’s purported annexations of Ukrainian territory. The United States remains committed to supporting and working with Ukraine to strengthen its democracy and help citizens find justice.
U.S. Embassy Ukraine
Administrator Power returned to Maidan Square, which she visited in 2015, to recognize the bravery and resilience of the people of Ukraine, and the essential role of the media in reporting war crimes and atrocities. She was accompanied by Oksana Romaniuk, Executive Director of the Kyiv-based Institute of Mass Information, which has provided critical safety training and equipment to Ukrainian journalists covering the war.
Administrator Power concluded her visit by hearing from frontline journalists working to tell the stories of the communities impacted by the war and to learn more about the support journalists need to continue their critical work including in the documentation of war crimes. Since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion in February, USAID has provided Ukraine’s journalists reporting from the frontlines with 855 protective vests, 775 helmets, and 1,870 first aid kits.
