OREANDA-NEWS. The US Department of Defense announced a new package of assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $125 million to improve the country's defense capability. The ministry's report, published on Monday, March 1, indicates, that the funds are allocated within the framework of the Initiative to Support the Security of Ukraine and will be used for training soldiers, purchasing equipment and assistance from military advisers.

This will allow the Ukrainian forces to «protect the territorial integrity of the country, ensure border security and increase interoperability with NATO», the press release says.

The Pentagon stressed, that this step confirms the commitment of the United States «to provide defensive lethal weapons that will allow Ukraine to more effectively defend itself from Russian aggression». The allocated funds will be used, in particular, for the purchase of two «Mark IV» patrol boats and the transfer of anti-artillery radars and tactical military equipment to Ukraine.

The remaining $150 million allocated by the US Congress in fiscal year 2021 will be provided after the Pentagon, in cooperation with the State Department, makes sure, that Kiev has made sufficient progress in implementing key defense reforms. The US Department of Defense calls on Ukraine to continue implementing reforms to strengthen civilian control over the armed forces, increase transparency and accountability in the defense industry and procurement, and modernize the defense sector in other key areas in accordance with NATO principles and standards.

Since 2014, the United States has already allocated more than $2 billion to Ukraine for security assistance.