A reduction in funding from the US may lead to the termination of 51% of Ukrainian media already this year, which will have a negative impact on countering Russian propaganda. About this stated People’s Deputy, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Nikita Poturaev.
He reminded of the termination of US grant support for various programs, in particular Ukrainian media, and outlined the risks this creates for the fight against Russia’s information attacks.
“51% of independent Ukrainian media may stop operating already this year. And among them, 51% to 70% are regional media, that is, we may lose almost all regional media in Ukraine. Why? Because the USA is cutting funding. I’m sorry, but it’s true. And you know who isn’t cutting funding? Russia. And, of course, China.”, – noted the People’s Deputy.
Poturaev emphasized the need to quickly create an international fund to support independent media.
“We need long-term financial mechanisms, not short-term grants. Propaganda does not stop. And the truth should not stop either.” – he emphasized.
It will be recalled that on January 20, on the day of his inauguration, US President Donald Trump signed a decree suspending all US foreign aid programs for 90 days to assess compliance with national interests and US foreign policy goals. On January 26, USAID was instructed to stop all projects in Ukraine.
