Kyiv, Ukraine – A planned educational retreat for 150 Ukrainian teenagers from war-torn northeastern regions was abruptly canceled due to the recent pause on U.S. development assistance. The trip, intended to provide students from the Sumy and Kharkiv regions with a reprieve from the ongoing conflict, was suspended following President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze development aid from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Tetiana Kovryga, head of the Ukrainian NGO GoGlobal, which organized the retreat, expressed deep disappointment over the decision. “It was difficult, not only for the children. I had a meeting with the team this morning, and I was very emotional; I carefully chose every word,” she told Reuters. Kovryga also noted that in addition to the retreat’s cancellation, two other projects have been put on hold, and she is now considering downsizing her 50-person team.
GoGlobal, an educational foundation supporting young people in frontline areas affected by war, is among many Ukrainian organizations facing disruptions due to the 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign aid. The suspension of funds is particularly damaging in regions where frequent air raid alerts and Russian bombardments continue to hinder access to education.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has depended heavily on foreign assistance to sustain public services. With much of the national budget allocated to military expenditures, international aid has been critical for funding pensions, public sector salaries, and humanitarian efforts. USAID has been a major contributor, providing $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, $5 billion in development assistance, and over $30 billion in direct budgetary support to Ukraine.
Local communities rely on donor aid for projects in education, health, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy assured that military aid remains unaffected by the freeze but voiced concern over the halt of funding for essential economic, health, and social projects. He described these programs as “critically important” for Ukraine’s stability and recovery.
As Ukraine continues to battle the ongoing Russian invasion, the loss of U.S. development aid poses serious challenges to its citizens, particularly the youth seeking stability and education amid the conflict. The future of projects like GoGlobal’s retreat remains uncertain as Ukrainian organizations brace for potential long-term funding cuts.
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