US announces $1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine at Swiss Peace Summit

Kamala Harris will replace President Joe Biden at the event

US Vice President Kamala Harris pledged America’s unwavering support for Ukraine and announced more than $1.5 billion in aid for the country’s energy sector and its humanitarian situation as a result of the 27-month Russian invasion.

Kamala Harris made the announcement at the Ukraine peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. She is scheduled to speak at the summit’s plenary session at 5:30 pm CEST/11:30 am EST.

“This war continues to be a total failure for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Kamala Harris said during a bilateral meeting with Zelenskiy. “It is in our interest to uphold international norms,” she added, pledging U.S. support for the country.

The $1.5 billion includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirection of $324 million in previously announced funds toward emergency repairs of energy infrastructure and other needs in Ukraine, the deputy’s office said. -president.

“These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraine’s resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the foundation for repairing and expanding Ukraine’s energy system ,” Kamala Harris’ office said.

She also announced more than $379 million in humanitarian assistance from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to help refugees and others affected by the war.

The money is intended to cover food assistance, health services, shelter and water, sanitation and hygiene services for millions of Ukrainians.

Kamala Harris, who will spend less than 24 hours at the meeting, will replace President Joe Biden at the event. The president has just ended his participation in the G7 summit in Italy and will return to the United States to participate in a fundraiser for his re-election campaign in Los Angeles.

Biden met with Zelenskiy both at the G7 summit, where they signed a bilateral US-Ukraine security agreement, and in France for events surrounding the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day invasion.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will represent the United States at Sunday’s summit and help establish working groups on the return of Ukrainian children from Russia and on energy security.

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