Zelenska meets with Blinken in Washington, holds talks with USAID

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19.07.2022 07:47

Ukrinform

The wife of the President of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, began her visit to Washington at the invitation of U.S. First Lady Jill Biden.

On Monday, Olena Zelenska met with the heads of the U.S. Department of State and the USAID Agency, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

At the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Olena Zelenska discussed the losses and needs of the Ukrainian people, who continue to resist the Russian aggressor.

According to the U.S. Department of State, Blinken “strongly condemned Russia’s brutal attacks, which continue to wound and kill innocent civilians and destroy homes, hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure”. The Secretary reiterated that the United States remains dedicated to helping the people of Ukraine recover and rebuild from the devastation inflicted on them by President Putin’s unjust war.

Olena Zelenska also met with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power. The Administrator emphasized that the United States remains committed to “Ukraine’s long-term recovery and development priorities, while also working to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the Ukrainian people”.

Following the meeting, USAID announced additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

“The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing more than $169 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support people affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has pushed nearly 12 million people from their homes,” the agency said.

It is noted that this additional funding will provide emergency food and cash assistance, safe drinking water, logistical support, information management support for humanitarian operations, nutrition, emergency shelter assistance, hygiene items, emergency health care, and mental health care to Ukrainians directly impacted by the conflict. The additional provision of cash will empower Ukrainians to access shelter, food, and medical assistance.

Olena Zelenska also visited the memorial to the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-33 and the Ukraine House in Washington, where she met with Ukrainian and American public figures, activists, representatives of charitable organizations.