USAID Administrator Samantha Power Has Avoided Travel To Ukraine. Her Agency Has Connectivity To Billions Of Dollars In Assistance Programs. Should Follow Her Boss And Visit Kyiv.

Mrs. Samantha Power, Administrator (2021- ) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington DC, is thought of as media-savvy (and some share media-hungry)- a former journalist and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director at the National Security Council for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights (2009-2013) and Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations (2013-2017) during the Obama-Biden Administration (2009-2017).  

Since 24 February 2022 when the armed forces of the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine, Administrator Power has traveled to Brussels, Moldova, Poland, Slovakia… but not to Ukraine. Not to Lviv. Not to Kyiv.

USAID operates “under the direct authority and foreign policy guidance of the Secretary of State.” On 24 April 2022, Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State, visited Kyiv.

Thus far in 2022, the United States government has borrowed and plans to borrow what will total more than US$50 billion by 30 September 2022, the end of the fiscal year for the United States government and direct those sums directly and indirectly to Ukraine.  Other governments have spent and plan to spend a total of approximately US$25 billion during the 2022 calendar year.  If the armed forces of the Russian Federation continue through the end of 2022 its incursions in Ukraine at a level of engagement similar since 24 February 2022 when the armed forces of the Russian Federation commenced its attack upon Ukraine, the total borrowed by the United States government for use directly and indirectly in Ukraine and in those countries impacted by the war in Ukraine, will near US$100 billion.  For reference, the government of Ukraine currently seeks US$5 billion to US$7 billion per month solely for its operations (payments of salaries, etc.).   

USAID has today direct and/or indirect connectivity to expenditures of funds borrowed by the United States government for use in Ukraine and relating to Ukraine and will continue to have direct and indirect connectivity as the war continues, as the warring parties adhere to cease fire agreements, and then as the reconstruction process commences throughout areas of Ukraine under operational control of the government of Ukraine.  

In previous years, while in other positions, Administrator Power has discussed issues of endemic, chronic, systemic corruption at all levels of government in Ukraine.  Given that the expenditures to reconstruct Ukraine could be US$500 billion, important now for USAID to dialogue directly with commercial, economic, and political leadership in Ukraine to construct a transparent best practices program to protect funds borrowed by United States taxpayers which are directed into Ukraine as the reconstruction process commences.  Having US$500 billion spent anywhere will be ripe for corruption and theft of exponential proportions. 

Administrator Power to CBS News (1 May 2022): “We're sort of turning our previous programming, which was very extensive all across Ukraine, into programming that is suited for this moment through our Ukrainian partners who are working inside Ukraine," she said. "We are super eager to get back into Ukraine, to be able to see that work up close, and to be in a position again to channel, for example, the new supplemental funding we hope will be coming to those partners who urgently need it.” 

Administrator Power to ABC News (1 May 2022): “I think the bigger challenges lie within Ukraine," Power said. "It goes without saying that in places like Mariupol that haven't been reached by meaningful humanitarian assistance in two months, where you have people dying of starvation, of dehydration.” 

With USAID having direct and indirect connectivity to the approximately US$50 billion in United States taxpayer funds directed or to be directed towards Ukraine, along with the expected additional US$50 billion, why is there not an office of USAID in Ukraine?  Why has Administrator Power avoided a visit to Ukraine?  To Kyiv? 

From United States Agency for International Development (USAID): “The U.S. Government’s partnership with the people of Ukraine is steadfast and enduring, and USAID remains committed to supporting Ukraine and its people in this current crisis. We have worked closely with Ukraine, our European allies, and humanitarian assistance partners to prepare for the emergency that this war has caused and meet immediate and growing humanitarian needs.  USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team—our nation’s finest humanitarian responders—to the region to support the Ukrainian people as they flee Russia’s aggression and to rapidly address critical needs that arise due to ongoing conflict. We have already responded to a range of needs in the lead-up to the invasion, from energy security to countering disinformation to cybersecurity support as Russia attempts to disrupt critical infrastructure and communications. We will continue to assess and ramp up access to primary and trauma medical care, food, and clean water. USAID is also working closely with the U.S. State Department to support Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.” 

“On February 24, USAID announced the activation of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to lead the U.S. Government humanitarian response to the crisis in Ukraine, with staff in Rzeszów, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; Chișinău, Moldova; and Bratislava, Slovakia. To support the DART, USAID activated a Response Management Team (RMT) in Washington, D.C. https://www.usaid.gov/usaid-response-ukraine” 

Link: USAID Fact Sheet #13 (Fiscal Year 2022)
Link: USAID “USG Response to the Complex Emergency”

Since 15 March 2022, four presidents, seven prime ministers, one chancellor, one deputy prime minister, three foreign ministers, one secretary of state, one secretary of defense, president of European Commission (EC), president of the European Council (EC), president of European Parliament (EP), speaker of the United States House of Representatives have visited Ukraine. Members of the United States Congress and members of Parliaments have visited Ukraine. 

• 30 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives accompanied by Democratic Party Representatives Gregory Meeks, Representative Adam Schiff, Representative James McGovern, Representative Jason Crow, Representative Barbara Lee, Representative William Keating

• 28 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the 193-member United Nations

• 24 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State (NATO), and Lloyd Austin, United States Secretary of Defense

• 21 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain (EU, NATO); Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Kingdom Denmark (EU, NATO)

• 20 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the European Commission (EC), Charles Michel

• 13 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of Republic of Estonia, Alar Karis (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Latvia, Egils Levits (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda (EU, NATO); President of Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda (EU, NATO)

• 10 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson (NATO)

• 9 April 2022 (Kyiv)- Chancellor of Republic of Austria, Karl Nehammer (EU)

• 7 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the Brussels, Belgium-based European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen; High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the EC, Josep Borrell Fontelles; Prime Minister of Slovak Republic, Eduard Heger (EU, NATO)

• 3 April 2022 (Odesa)- Minister Of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Nikoloas Dendias (EU, NATO)

• 1 April 2022 (Kyiv)- President of the Strasbourg, France-based European Parliament (EP), Roberta Metsola

• 17 March 2022 (Lviv)- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu (NATO)

• 15 March 2022 (Kyiv)- Prime Minister of Czech Republic, Petr Fiala (EU, NATO); Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki (EU, NATO); Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Jansa (EU, NATO); Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Jaroslaw Kaczynski (EU, NATO)