BRUSSELS — Donors at a European Union-led conference on Monday pledged 5.8 billion euros ($6.3 billion) to help Syria. The pledges at the Brussels gathering were less than last year's 7.5 billion euros in grants and loans, as EU officials pointed to US aid cuts as a major contributing factor.

EU conference aims to gather aid pledges for Syria's recovery Pledges expected to be lower due to US aid cuts, says Lahbib Syria competes with other conflicts for aid, Pederson says BRUSSELS, March 17 (Reuters) - The interim government in Damascus will take part on Monday in a conference to gather aid pledges for Syria,

Germany is pledging a further 300 million euros ($326 million) in aid for Syrians through the United Nations and select organisations, said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday, ahead of an EU-led donor conference in Brussels.

European Union government ministers on Tuesday debated ways to keep Radio Free Europe afloat after the Trump administration stopped grants to the pro-democracy media outlet over the weekend. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty started broadcasting during the Cold War.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that it was sad to hear that the U.S. was withdrawing funding for Radio Free Europe but that the EU cannot automatically come in with funding.

The US president signed an executive order on Friday to stop funding the American global broadcaster, following criticism from Elon Musk.