**US Cuts Funding for Radio Free Europe, Leaving Ukraine’s Service in Limbo**
The US government has cut funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a move that has left the Ukrainian service of the radio in uncertainty. The decision was made by President Donald Trump, who last week announced plans to defund the radio.
**Background**
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a US-funded international news organization that broadcasts news and information to countries behind the Iron Curtain. The Ukrainian service of the radio has been particularly active, providing news and information about Ukraine and the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
**Impact on Ukraine’s Service**
The cut in funding has left the Ukrainian service of RFE/RL in limbo. While there is some funding available through March, the future of the service beyond that date is unclear. The management of the radio hopes to get support from Congress or other organizations, but it remains uncertain whether this will be possible.
**Alternatives Considered**
The European Union has been mentioned as a potential alternative source of funding for RFE/RL. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that EU foreign ministers discussed the functioning of RFE/RL at a meeting in Brussels last week. The bloc cannot automatically fund Radio Free Europe, but it will look into potential options.
**Czech Foreign Minister Suggests EU Could Buy RFE/RL**
The Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavsky, did not rule out that the European Union could buy RFE/RL from the US. This would allow the EU to take over the funding of the radio and ensure its continued operation.
**Freelancers Terminated**
To save money amid budget uncertainty, the Ukrainian Service has parted ways with its freelance journalists. Contracts with all freelancers have been terminated, leaving some staff members uncertain about their future employment.
**Journalists React**
Ukrainian journalist Artem Lysak said that Crimea Realities, a project of RFE/RL in Ukraine, is as important now as it was from the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Crimea. He emphasized the need for independent media to continue monitoring the situation in Russian-occupied territories.
Writer and former journalist Stanislav Aseyev, who worked for RFE/RL, expressed his disappointment that the US government has destroyed a radio that had been considered an “enemy of Russia.”
