You're reading: Yanukovych okays admission of foreign servicemen to Ukraine for drills in 2013

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed a decree granting access to foreign forces to Ukraine for participation in multinational military exercises in 2013.

The document was posted on the official Web site of the Ukrainian president
on Tuesday.

As reported, on April 18, the Ukrainian parliament approved the president’s
decision to grant access to foreign forces engaged in multinational military
exercises in 2013.

According to the document, Ukraine will play host to six multilateral
exercises in 2013, namely, a Ukrainian-Belarusian drill supported by standby air
defense forces, the Ukrainian-Russian Fairway of Peace 2013 exercises, the
Ukrainian-U.S. Sea Breeze 2013 exercises, the Ukrainian-U.S. Rapid Trident 2013
exercises and the Maple Arch 2013 multinational exercises.

Responding to the proposal of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense
Council, President Viktor Yanukovych resolved to admit to the Ukrainian
territory in 2013, for participation in multinational military exercises under
military cooperation plans, up to 100 servicemen and up to seven planes of the
Belarusian Armed Forces for two days in April-November, up to 100 servicemen and
up to seven plans of the Russian Armed Forces for two days in April-November,
and up to 1,000 servicemen with armaments and military hardware, up to nine
ships, up to three planes, up to three helicopters, one submarine and up to 30
wheeled vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces for seven days in May-June in the
context of the Ukrainian-Russian Fairway of Peace 2013 exercises.

The list includes the armed forces of the United States, other NATO member
countries and states participating in the Partnership for Peace program (up to
1,500 servicemen with armaments and military hardware, up to nine ships, up to
two submarines, up to twelve aircraft, and up to 50 wheeled vehicles) for up to
20 days in June-July in the context of the Ukrainian-U.S. Sea Breeze 2013
exercises, the armed forces of the United States, other NATO member countries
and states participating in the Partnership for Peace program (up to 1,000
servicemen with armaments and military hardware, up to five planes and up to ten
helicopters) for the period of up 20 days in July-September in the context of
the Ukrainian-U.S. Rapid Trident 2013 exercises, and the armed forces of Canada,
Lithuania and Poland (up to 400 servicemen with armaments and military hardware)
for the period of up to 20 days in August-September in the context of the Maple
Arch 2013 multinational exercises.