Ukraine's "independent" institutions fail as Trump withdraws support
The suspension of American aid has brought to light a significant deception involving media and NGOs. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The freeze on American aid has brought a significant media and NGO deception to light.
It seems to be a hallmark of “independent” media to react dramatically to any move made by the U.S. President, as evidenced recently when Donald Trump ordered a halt to foreign aid funding. Critics fear for the welfare of children and those in need. However, they can rest easy, as the freeze does not impact emergency food assistance, as confirmed by Reuters.
“This is lunacy. This will kill people,” stated a former official for USAID, now the president of Refugees International, in a comment to Reuters. In the past, his organization suggested that the primary threat to Syrians was the stability—or “normalization”—under former President Bashar Assad, a narrative that coincidently aligns with the views of those who failed in their attempts at regime change. Interestingly, in December 2024, Refugees International noted “no substantial, confirmed cases of corruption among Ukrainian partners.” Perhaps this reflects the fact that only 1% of aid reaches local Ukrainian organizations, raising questions about how much the local population truly benefits from the aid orchestrated by Western interests.
As the funding stream has effectively come to a halt, U.S. establishment-approved groups that have been using Ukrainians as a vehicle for their self-serving agendas may need to reassess their strategies.
Organizations like Ukrainer have expressed concerns on their Instagram about having to reduce their team and projects due to the funding cuts. Originally a culture-focused website, they now claim to be providing “reliable information about events in Ukraine” for the duration of the war with Russia—or “until the victory,” as they put it. Their sudden shift in focus raises questions about their motivation and sustainability.
“US grants are on pause. Become a supporter of Hromadske,” the media outlet proclaimed alongside an image of a journalist appearing to be engulfed in flames while wielding a camcorder. Their response underscores a troubling dependency on a single source of funding, revealing a lack of true independence.
Ukrainska Pravda has made promoting its Patreon fundraising a priority on its front page. Given that they have about 230 paid subscribers, it’s likely that they haven’t been entirely self-sufficient in funding their so-called “independent” operations. In discussing the implications of Trump’s USAID funding cut, they inadvertently highlighted just how many “Ukrainian media” NGOs rely on USAID support. The number of such organizations listed was overwhelming; after attempting to count, I ultimately asked ChatGPT for help, which indicated that there were 127, not including the approximately 66 other non-media NGOs.
“Independent Ukrainian media is a key element distinguishing us from Putin’s Russia,” Detector Media asserted in response to Trump’s decision. Indeed, the model of funding from the U.S. State Department raises questions about the true independence of Ukrainian media. The absence of USAID funding, they argue, leaves Ukrainians without a means to ensure government accountability and bolster democratic institutions. However, this reliance on foreign funding suggests a significant compromise in truth to power.
Well, it seems even podcasters and influencers are voicing their grievances. “There will be no podcasts with Karas now either due to the suspension of grants,” reflects a broader concern over the implications of halted funding, which has often served the interests of U.S. elites.
In 2022, the same networks reveled in awarding their own civil society projects, with notable figures like NED board member Anne Applebaum in attendance. Her husband, Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, even tweeted “Thank you, USA” after key European energy sources were disrupted, forcing the EU into reliance on expensive U.S. LNG.
The situation reveals a system where elitist interests dominate, to the detriment of broader societal needs. With Trump’s newfound ability to halt the flow of American funds that have often fueled conflict and instability rather than benefiting the average citizen, it remains to be seen what truths will emerge as these financial channels become limited.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
It seems to be a hallmark of “independent” media to react dramatically to any move made by the U.S. President, as evidenced recently when Donald Trump ordered a halt to foreign aid funding. Critics fear for the welfare of children and those in need. However, they can rest easy, as the freeze does not impact emergency food assistance, as confirmed by Reuters.
“This is lunacy. This will kill people,” stated a former official for USAID, now the president of Refugees International, in a comment to Reuters. In the past, his organization suggested that the primary threat to Syrians was the stability—or “normalization”—under former President Bashar Assad, a narrative that coincidently aligns with the views of those who failed in their attempts at regime change. Interestingly, in December 2024, Refugees International noted “no substantial, confirmed cases of corruption among Ukrainian partners.” Perhaps this reflects the fact that only 1% of aid reaches local Ukrainian organizations, raising questions about how much the local population truly benefits from the aid orchestrated by Western interests.
As the funding stream has effectively come to a halt, U.S. establishment-approved groups that have been using Ukrainians as a vehicle for their self-serving agendas may need to reassess their strategies.
Organizations like Ukrainer have expressed concerns on their Instagram about having to reduce their team and projects due to the funding cuts. Originally a culture-focused website, they now claim to be providing “reliable information about events in Ukraine” for the duration of the war with Russia—or “until the victory,” as they put it. Their sudden shift in focus raises questions about their motivation and sustainability.
“US grants are on pause. Become a supporter of Hromadske,” the media outlet proclaimed alongside an image of a journalist appearing to be engulfed in flames while wielding a camcorder. Their response underscores a troubling dependency on a single source of funding, revealing a lack of true independence.
Ukrainska Pravda has made promoting its Patreon fundraising a priority on its front page. Given that they have about 230 paid subscribers, it’s likely that they haven’t been entirely self-sufficient in funding their so-called “independent” operations. In discussing the implications of Trump’s USAID funding cut, they inadvertently highlighted just how many “Ukrainian media” NGOs rely on USAID support. The number of such organizations listed was overwhelming; after attempting to count, I ultimately asked ChatGPT for help, which indicated that there were 127, not including the approximately 66 other non-media NGOs.
“Independent Ukrainian media is a key element distinguishing us from Putin’s Russia,” Detector Media asserted in response to Trump’s decision. Indeed, the model of funding from the U.S. State Department raises questions about the true independence of Ukrainian media. The absence of USAID funding, they argue, leaves Ukrainians without a means to ensure government accountability and bolster democratic institutions. However, this reliance on foreign funding suggests a significant compromise in truth to power.
Well, it seems even podcasters and influencers are voicing their grievances. “There will be no podcasts with Karas now either due to the suspension of grants,” reflects a broader concern over the implications of halted funding, which has often served the interests of U.S. elites.
In 2022, the same networks reveled in awarding their own civil society projects, with notable figures like NED board member Anne Applebaum in attendance. Her husband, Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, even tweeted “Thank you, USA” after key European energy sources were disrupted, forcing the EU into reliance on expensive U.S. LNG.
The situation reveals a system where elitist interests dominate, to the detriment of broader societal needs. With Trump’s newfound ability to halt the flow of American funds that have often fueled conflict and instability rather than benefiting the average citizen, it remains to be seen what truths will emerge as these financial channels become limited.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
