U.S. earmarks USD 300 mln in defense spending for Ukraine

The U.S. Senate approved a defense spending bill that creates the possibility to supply Ukraine with armaments, the Ukrainian News agency reported on Oct. 7. The bill provides Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, in conjunction with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the ability to allocate USD 300 mln for defense and reconnaissance. This support can consist of real-time reconnaissance information, training, radar systems, drones, as well as lethal armaments such as anti-tank weaponry, mortars, grenade launchers and rifles. 

The USD 300 mln earmarked for Ukraine in the defense spending bill can be provided soon after the legislation is signed by U.S. President Barack Obama, said on Oct. 7 Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Valeriy Chaly, as reported by the Ukrinform news agency. “This is truly the next important step in deepening coordination and military-hardware cooperation with Ukraine, and this USD 300 mln that was fought over is an important figure,” he said, noting that USD 200 mln was originally earmarked.

The bill marked the first time that lethal weaponry was earmarked for Ukraine in the U.S. defense spending bill, Chaly said. If President Obama fulfills his promise of vetoing the legislation, there’s still a high chance that the earmarked funds will be preserved, he said. “We have powerful support in Congress and we are constantly working,” he said.

The Russian-backed terrorists in Donbas violated the ceasefire on Oct. 7, the Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation press service reported the same day. At 12:25 p.m., the terrorists guided anti-tank missiles at a Ukrainian military post, injuring four soldiers, the report said, without specifying the region of the incident. The attack was recorded by the OSCE and the Joint and Center for Monitoring and Coordination.

Zenon Zawada: These earmarked funds are among the most important forms of support that have come to Ukraine from the West since the Russian invasion began last year. If Obama signs the legislation, with the Ukraine support intact, it means he will be creating the possibility of dispatching of lethal weapons for the first time. Although that doesn’t necessarily imply that Kerry will authorize its distribution, just the availability of such arms can serve as a potential deterrent to a Russian decision to escalate warfare. And certainly, they will prove effective should that occur.

As for the shooting, it’s widely expected that a perfect ceasefire won’t be in place. Yet it will be considered a success if injuries and casualties are kept to no more than a handful per month. It’s crucial for Putin to be able to activate his Donbas terrorists whenever he deems necessary. So such incidents are inevitable with the need to keep his terrorists ready for war.