This year, due to the termination of grant support for various programs by the United States government, 51% of independent Ukrainian media may cease operations, including from 51% to 70% of regional media.
This was announced by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mykyta Poturaiev, who spoke at the First Additional OSCE Meeting on the Human Dimension, dedicated to the role of the media in conflicts and humanitarian crises, Ukrinform reports with reference to the parliament press service.
“Fifty-one percent of independent Ukrainian media may cease their operations this year. And among them, from 51 percent to 70 percent are regional media, that is, we may lose almost all regional media in Ukraine,” Poturaiev emphasized, commenting on the termination of U.S. grant support for various programs, including for Ukrainian media.
At the same time, the head of the parliamentary committee emphasized that Russia and China are not reducing funding for their media outlets, foreign propaganda media.
According to him, reducing funding for Ukrainian and not only Ukrainian ones is in fact supporting Russian lies, propaganda, and disinformation.
Poturaiev called for the urgent creation of an international fund to support independent media.
“We need long-term financial mechanisms, not short-term grants. Propaganda doesn’t stop. And truth must not stop either,” the deputy emphasized.
As reported, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on March 10 that the U.S. is officially closing 83% of the programs run by the Agency for International Development (USAID).
Source: Over half of Ukrainian media outlets may shut down due to U.S. support cuts - MP
