“USAID funding situation deeply worrying for the Ukrainian media sector,” EFJ

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is sounding the alarm over the suspension of American media aid. According to the EFJ statement, the United States’ decision to freeze USAID aid programs for 90 days has affected media in more than 30 countries.

“It seems that Donald Trump is determined to change the system of American foreign aid to suit his “America First” agenda, causing chaos in the media ecosystem of more than thirty countries around the world,” says EFJ President Maja Sever.

“The USAID funding situation is deeply worrying for the Ukrainian media sector. Many Ukrainian media outlets and journalists received vital support through American aid programs, which were critical for supporting independent journalism during the war,” emphasizes Sergiy Tomilenko, the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU).

“We call on European institutions and foundations to mobilize and coordinate their actions to defend media pluralism and support independent journalism as the best countermeasure against disinformation. The European Union and other donors cannot abandon journalists, who are the best defenders of the rule of law and democracy in countries where they are under threat,” the EFJ said in a statement.

NUJU Information Service