15-6-2024 (WASHINGTON) US Vice President Kamala Harris announced more than $1.5 billion in aid, partly aimed at bolstering the nation’s energy sector and addressing its dire humanitarian situation resulting from Russia’s 27-month invasion.
The announcement was made as Harris attended the Ukraine Peace Summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she was scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and deliver an address at the summit’s plenary session.
The substantial $1.5 billion aid package includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirection of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency energy infrastructure repair and other critical needs in Ukraine, according to the Vice President’s office.
“These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraine’s resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork to repair and expand Ukraine’s energy system,” Harris’ office stated.
In addition to the energy sector support, Harris announced more than $379 million in humanitarian assistance from the State Department and the US Agency for International Development. This crucial aid is intended to assist refugees and other individuals impacted by the war, providing essential services such as food assistance, healthcare, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services for millions of Ukrainians.
Harris, who will spend less than 24 hours at the gathering in Lucerne, is standing in for President Joe Biden at the event. The President will be returning to the United States from the G7 summit in Italy to attend a fundraiser for his reelection campaign in Los Angeles.
However, Biden has already had the opportunity to meet with Zelenskyy both at the G7 summit, where they signed a US-Ukraine bilateral security agreement, and in France for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day invasion.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will represent the United States at the summit on Sunday and contribute to establishing working groups focused on the critical issues of returning Ukrainian children from Russia and energy security.
