The $ 350 million stipulated in the US defense budget for the Ukrainian army includes funds for the partial restoration of the Ukrainian Naval Forces affected after the Russians seized the Crimean Peninsula. This is written by the press service of Republican senator Robert Portman, known pro-Ukrainian position during the Russian aggression.

"The amendments of Portman, which received the status of law, for the first time provide support for the strengthening of the fleet of Ukraine, badly affected by the seizure of Russia by the Crimea. The US is taking a critical step forward in this support. It is very important while the Russian aggression in the east of Ukraine continues with the use of hybrid war techniques (such as propaganda and disinformation) so that the US and NATO provide constant economic, political and military support to Ukraine that will provide the country with a democratic future, "it says. statement.

As the senator writes, there is "the old agreement of both parties about the policy that the US should pursue as part of an all-embracing strategy to support Ukraine". Portman is convinced that "independent Ukraine is critical" not only for the Eastern European region, but also for American interests in this part of the world and not only.

In his statement we are talking about the fact that according to the adopted law, the Pentagon and the State Department will have "enough time" (two years) to allocate and spend funds.

It is emphasized that the allocation of aid from the US correlates with how quickly and effectively Ukraine fulfills its obligations under institutional reforms in the defense sector. The main conditions for providing assistance: access to self-sufficiency, property accounting, significant progress in ensuring the security of important and patent-protected foreign defense technologies. The Pentagon undertakes to work out a clear methodology that will allow tracking the progress of Ukraine.

In the list of US assistance to Ukraine, air defense and coastal defense radars, marine mine technology, as well as anti-sea mines. In addition, the list also includes other tools for coastal and coastal defense. These points, the senator emphasizes, reflect the parts of the defense system that Ukraine has most in demand, which were not previously provided to it.

In addition, the adopted law simplifies the use of US assistance for the care of wounded soldiers, and also presupposes a more extensive training of fighters of the AFU in tactical medicine.

"I urge the administration (Trump) to immediately provide Ukraine with all the tools that it needs," said Portman..

December 12, 2017 at the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States said that the US president's law on the budget of the country for 2018 authorized the transfer of lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Source: LIGA.