You're reading: White House fact sheet on US, NATO assistance to Ukraine

Editor's Note: The following is a White House fact sheet on U.S. and NATO security assistance to Ukraine.

The fact sheet is here

Excerpts here:

Ukraine

U.S. Assistance:

The U.S.-Ukraine defense relationship is transitioning from “crisis-response” to an enduring partnership aimed at developing more capable, NATO-interoperable Ukrainian Armed Forces. This partnership will help Ukraine effectively preserve and enforce its territorial integrity, deepen defense institutional reforms, and improve processes for developing defense requirements and managing resources.

The United States announced a comprehensive $335 million FY16 bilateral security assistance package for Ukraine, bringing total committed U.S. security assistance to more than $600 million since 2014. The FY16 package includes bilateral support in three main areas:

Training: 350 U.S. personnel training up to five battalions of Ukrainian conventional forces and one battalion of special operations forces, while developing a long-term institutional training capacity.

Equipment: including counter-artillery and counter-mortar radars, secure communications, training aids, logistics infrastructure and IT systems, tactical UAVs, and medical equipment.

Advisors: advancing implementation of key defense reforms, such as promoting civilian oversight, greater efficiency and transparency, and combatting corruption.

The Multinational Joint Commission on Defense Reform and Security Cooperation with Ukraine (MJC), led by the United States in partnership with Canada, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom, assesses Ukrainian requirements and prioritizes training, equipment, and advisory initiatives.

The United States and Ukraine also host two exercises each year in Ukraine – a ground forces peacekeeping exercise (RAPID TRIDENT) and a naval exercise (SEA BREEZE) in the Black Sea. These exercises seek to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional security through realistic training, while also sending an important signal of reassurance to Ukraine and other regional partners. Ukraine also participates in other U.S.-hosted exercises elsewhere in Europe.

NATO Assistance:

Comprehensive Assistance Package: Allies will endorse a Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) at the Warsaw Summit that will streamline and enhance NATO’s ongoing support for Ukraine in the following areas:

Advisory support: Resident and non-resident NATO and allied advisors are assisting Ukraine in a broad range of defense issues, including logistics and strategic-level reform.

Defense reform: Key assistance includes capacity and institution building, professional development of civilian employees, and strategic communications.

Defense education: Allied experts are cooperating with eight defense education institutions, three training centers, and the Diplomatic Academy in Ukraine to improve staff skills and develop curricula that meet Western standards.

Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and demining: NATO is conducting humanitarian de-mining operations and will implement a project to increase Ukraine’s capabilities to counter IEDs.

Explosive ordnance disposal: Allies are supporting Ukraine in disposing of obsolete small arms/light weapons, ammunition, and anti-personnel mines.

Trust Funds: As a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, allied leaders at the 2014 Wales Summit established five Trust Funds to support Ukraine. (Editor’s Note: The most recent NATO estimate is that the trust funds have 5 million euros.)

Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4)

Logistics and Standardization

Cyber Defense

Military Career Transition

Medical Rehabilitation

Counter-IED (established subsequent to the Wales Summit)