by Arshad Mohammad
(Reuters) – The United States plans to announce on Friday $250 million in aid to bolster Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the face of Russian attacks and $300 million for Moldova, in part to help Chisinau free itself from its energy dependence on Russia.
The aid, described in draft documents seen by Reuters, is expected to be announced by U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power on the anniversary of Ukraine’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers have been killed and millions have fled their homes since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, sparking the largest ground war in Europe since World War II.
Russia, which failed to score a quick victory in what it calls a “special operation”, has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Western officials see it as an effort to weaken Ukrainian morale in the grueling ground war.
“The United States government remains committed to assisting the Ukrainian government in maintaining the stability and functioning of its electrical system amid the relentless and brutal attacks by Russian forces on critical infrastructure,” reads a draft document. which mentions the $250 million in aid to Ukraine.
The $300 million for Moldova includes $80 million in budget support to offset high electricity prices, $135 million for power generation projects and $85 million to improve its capacity to s supply energy from alternative sources, according to a second draft document.
“This aid will enable Moldova to meet the urgent needs created by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war, while strengthening its long-term energy resilience and its interconnections with Europe,” the second document said.
Moldova, a former Soviet republic of 2.5 million people bordering Ukraine to the west, is one of Europe’s poorest nations and has historically relied heavily on Russian gas.
The money comes from a $45 billion package earmarked for Ukraine and included in a broader money bill passed by the US Congress last year. In accordance with US budget procedures, Congress has 15 days after notification by the administration to review planned spending.
(Report Arshad Mohammed; With contributions from Daphne Psaledakis and Patricia Zengerle; French version Dagmarah Mackos, editing by Kate Entringer)
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