This audio is created with AI assistance U.S. diplomats are urgently seeking an exemption for Ukraine-related programs from a 90-day foreign aid freeze imposed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to documents reviewed by the Financial Times (FT) and sources familiar with the situation. The sweeping directive, which took immediate effect, also includes "stop work" orders on existing projects. Senior diplomats in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs requested a full waiver to exclude U.S.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday the U.S. has not stopped military aid to Ukraine after newly sworn in U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he would pause foreign aid grants for 90 days. Zelenskyy did not clarify whether humanitarian aid had been paused. Ukraine relies on the U.S. for 40% of its military needs. “I am focused on military aid; it has not been stopped, thank God,” he said at a press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The two leaders met in Kyiv...

Military assistance to Egypt and Israel, and emergency food aid are — for now— the only exceptions the Trump administration is making to an executive order temporarily halting U.S. foreign aid for 90 days, pending a review. The waivers were listed in an internal State Department memo obtained by the Miami Herald that was distributed to offer guidance about the review process being launched by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The goal of the exercise is to see if the programs being funded are aligned with President Donald Trump’s foreign...