For Immediate Release
May 4, 2024
The below is attributable to Deputy Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:
From May 1 to May 3, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman traveled to Ukraine to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the country’s economic recovery and Euro-Atlantic integration. During her trip, which immediately followed the enactment of $61 billion in new supplemental appropriations for Ukraine, Deputy Administrator Coleman announced two new, large-scale initiatives designed to strengthen agricultural productivity and bolster Ukraine’s energy security.
Together with Ambassador Bridget Brink, Deputy Administrator Coleman met with senior Ukrainian government officials, including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Justice Denys Maliuska, Minister of Finance Serhii Marchenko, and State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure Head Mustafa Nayyem.
During her meetings, Deputy Administrator Coleman discussed the United States’ support for Ukraine’s recovery and economic growth and USAID projects focused on agriculture, energy, innovation, and trade. She also discussed the need for the Ukrainian government to continue to advance much-needed transparency, anti-corruption, and rule of law reforms in order to realize the vision of the Ukrainian people and ensure continued U.S. financial support.
Deputy Administrator Coleman also met with students and staff from the Kyiv School of Economics, farmers, electrical workers and leaders from Ukraine’s electricity transmission system operator, regional government officials, and local residents accessing recovery-focused government services via the USAID-supported Diia phone-based app. Additionally, she met with representatives from Deloitte and KPMG to discuss budget support monitoring and oversight implemented by USAID in Ukraine.
On May 1, Deputy Administrator Coleman delivered the keynote address at the Kyiv Investment Forum. In these remarks, the Deputy Administrator detailed the ways in which USAID is working with Ukrainian partners to nurture an environment ripe for increased international investment through both assistance and continued reform.
On May 2, Deputy Administrator Coleman launched two new USAID programs essential to Ukraine’s long-term economic growth and resilience.
While visiting a USAID-supported potato farm, the Deputy Administrator launched Harvest, a new program that will invest nearly $60 million to expand Ukraine’s agricultural sector through assistance to micro-, small-, and medium-sized grain and oilseed producers. Harvest builds upon USAID’s Agriculture Resilience Initiative-Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine), through which USAID has invested over $350 million and leveraged more than $370 million more from the private sector and other donors.
During a tour of an electrical distribution substation previously attacked by Russian missiles and drones, Deputy Administrator Coleman launched a new USAID program entitled Securing Power, Advancing Resilience and Connectivity, or SPARC, which will build on the Agency’s multi-year efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate Ukraine’s energy infrastructure through the provision of critical equipment and assistance necessary to further integrate Ukraine’s energy system with Europe’s. SPARC will help repair damaged infrastructure, deploy vital protective materials, deliver backup generators, and provide fuel and fuel vouchers to keep Ukraine’s lights on and its heat running.
Before departing Ukraine, Deputy Administrator Coleman visited Kyiv’s Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine to lay flowers and observe a moment of silence in honor of the brave Ukrainians killed since 2014 at the hands of Russian invaders.
