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U.S. energy assistance valued at approximately $250 million for Ukraine remains unreleased, raising concerns among U.S. and European officials as winter intensifies. The aid was intended for importing liquefied natural gas and rebuilding infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had planned to disburse these funds during the Biden administration, but bureaucratic complications arose after the Trump administration effectively shut down USAID.

Current discussions involve the State Department and the Development Finance Corporation regarding the disbursement of these funds. The delay has exacerbated the already dire situation in Ukraine, where power outages and heating cuts have left millions exposed to extreme cold, with temperatures in Kyiv expected to plunge to around -12°F next week. Ukrainian officials report that all major energy plants have been damaged, with unfunded energy needs estimated at €675 million ($807 million).