US aid was long a lifeline for Eastern Europe. Trump cuts are sending shockwaves through the region

President Donald Trump’s abrupt freeze of U.S. foreign aid is sending shockwaves through Eastern Europe. It has left pro-democracy groups, independent media, civil society initiatives and local governments scrambling to make ends meet in a region often defined by rivalries between East and West. The U.S. State Department said the 90-day freeze aims to root out waste as Trump aggressively rolls out his “America First” agenda. But many in Eastern Europe fear that the cessation of U.S. funds could expose Washington's allies and create a vacuum that its foes could gladly seek to fill.