You're reading: Ukraine may receive military aid from US within next few months – Chaly

Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Valeriy Chaly said that shipments as part of the U.S. military aid will start within next few months.

“The total of 658 million [U.S. dollars], which is in the budget today [the amount of the U.S. aid to Ukraine in 2016] is an achievement. […] The recently passed bills allow these resources to be used,” the Ambassador said when speaking on air during a Voice of America broadcast.

“I am telling you that there are certain positions that need some additional legislative regulation. In particular, what isn’t in the inventory of the American army but is necessary for the Ukrainian army. These bills are such as currently aimed at some physical shipments made in implementation of those general political decisions on the military aid and assistance in the security area,” he explained.

“I believe that soon, within next few months in fact, we will have it and talk about it in public, about such shipments [as part of the military aid] to Ukraine,” Chaly said.

According to reports, the scope of the U.S. financial aid to Ukraine in 2016 had increased to $658,185,000, up by $145 million against the initial request. In aggregate, the funds that are assigned to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense and eligible to be used to implement military aid programs in Ukraine may exceed $300 million, the amount set forth in the budget to cover Ukraine’s national defense needs.

“These commitments include the $250 million allocated to Ukraine through the U.S. Department of Defense and may be spent, in particular, on organizing trainings, delivery of military equipment, lethal defensive weapons, logistics support, goods shipments and services, intelligence support for the Ukrainian armed forces and national security agencies,” the Ukrainian Embassy to the U.S. reported back in December.