US funding cut prompts financial crisis for Ukrainian media
Ukrainian media organizations are actively soliciting private donations following the suspension of US foreign aid. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Multiple Ukrainian media outlets are now appealing for emergency donations to remain operational following U.S. President Donald Trump's suspension of foreign aid programs. According to Oksana Romanyuk, executive director of the Institute of Mass Information, nine out of every ten outlets have been affected by this policy shift in Washington.
”Unfortunately, almost 90% of Ukrainian media outlets were surviving on grants,” Romanyuk shared with Hromadske Radio, characterizing Trump's recent decision as a threat to Ukraine's democracy. She expressed concern that “oligarchs” might take control of a media landscape that is now “weakened” due to the cessation of American funding.
Among those seeking private donations is Hromadske, which was established in November 2013, just prior to the Maidan protests. It initially received funding directly from the U.S. embassy in Kiev and the Open Society Foundation, founded by George Soros. The broadcaster was significant in its efforts to critique the government during the protests.
In its statement regarding the suspension of several projects, Hromadske lauded the U.S. Agency for International Development as one of the most generous supporters of "independent media" and NGOs in Ukraine. Similarly, the Ukrainian investigative journalism organization Bihus.info noted that much of its funding came from the American agency.
The call for emergency funding extends beyond traditional media outlets. Detector Media, a self-described watchdog against online disinformation, has reported that hundreds of organizations are at risk of shutting down without USAID support, urging private citizens and business owners to contribute.
Irina Vereshchuk, deputy chief of staff to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, referred to the suspension of U.S. non-military assistance as “unexpected and unpleasant.” She announced that Kiev will hold “consultations with our American partners” to work on resuming financial assistance while promising to implement measures to “stabilize the situation” in the meantime.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
”Unfortunately, almost 90% of Ukrainian media outlets were surviving on grants,” Romanyuk shared with Hromadske Radio, characterizing Trump's recent decision as a threat to Ukraine's democracy. She expressed concern that “oligarchs” might take control of a media landscape that is now “weakened” due to the cessation of American funding.
Among those seeking private donations is Hromadske, which was established in November 2013, just prior to the Maidan protests. It initially received funding directly from the U.S. embassy in Kiev and the Open Society Foundation, founded by George Soros. The broadcaster was significant in its efforts to critique the government during the protests.
In its statement regarding the suspension of several projects, Hromadske lauded the U.S. Agency for International Development as one of the most generous supporters of "independent media" and NGOs in Ukraine. Similarly, the Ukrainian investigative journalism organization Bihus.info noted that much of its funding came from the American agency.
The call for emergency funding extends beyond traditional media outlets. Detector Media, a self-described watchdog against online disinformation, has reported that hundreds of organizations are at risk of shutting down without USAID support, urging private citizens and business owners to contribute.
Irina Vereshchuk, deputy chief of staff to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, referred to the suspension of U.S. non-military assistance as “unexpected and unpleasant.” She announced that Kiev will hold “consultations with our American partners” to work on resuming financial assistance while promising to implement measures to “stabilize the situation” in the meantime.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
