The American entrepreneur and philanthropist calls on U.S. to unlock the aid for Kyiv.

Howard Buffett, the son of Warren Buffett – one of the most successful investors of all times, announced last month that the Howard G. Buffett Foundation would give $300 million in aid to Ukraine this year.

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This pledge follows a half a billion US dollars donation the foundation sent to the Kyiv government in 2023, with President Volodimir Zelenski expressing his gratitude to the younger Buffett by calling him a “Friend of Ukraine” and unveiling a plaque with his name on “The Walk of the Brave” during the billionaire’s visit to Kyiv in December. 

In an interview with Business Insider, Howard Buffett praised President Zelenski's wartime leadership and said it would be a mistake for the United States to withdraw support for Ukraine at this critical time.

"Anybody who feels that Ukraine doesn't need our support is failing to recognize what Zelensky is leading his country against, and it's an incredible force that he's up against," Buffett said.

He called Russia's aggression the "largest humanitarian crisis" he's seen in his life, and warned against halting the support for Kyiv:

“It's going to be one of the biggest mistakes that the United States makes historically if we don't continue to support Ukraine."

With his financial assistance, Buffett has helped restore Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure and clear civilian areas and farmland of mines the Russians left behind.

He’s replaced windows blown out by bomb blasts, keeping Ukrainians in their homes, has built and outfitted a rehabilitation hospital for soldiers and civilians who have lost limbs.

His money also bought equipment for security officials investigating Russian war crimes.

Howard Buffett's foundation is not the sole private donor to Ukraine. Microsoft, Google, Epic Games, and others transferred more than $1 billion combined. In June 2024, Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov auctioned his Nobel Peace Prize for $103.5 million, which he donated to UNICEF to support children displaced by the war.

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