US Cuts Funding for Radio Free Europe Amid Ukraine Crisis

The U.S. decision to cut funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has left the outlet's Ukrainian service in a precarious position, as the funding was unexpectedly terminated, prompting concerns over press freedom in authoritarian regions. This move, part of President Trump's broader budget cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, was met with disappointment from EU officials, who are now discussing potential financial support to fill the gap left by the U.S. The Czech Republic has proposed EU funding to maintain RFE/RL's operations, emphasizing its importance as a source of independent media in countries where free speech is suppressed. However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas cautioned that filling this void would not be straightforward due to competing requests for funding. RFE/RL's management warned that the funding cut could be a significant setback for democracy promotion, describing it as a