The Pentagon officially approved the allocation of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $ 250 million. This is stated in a press release published on the website of the US defense department. The document states that the funds are allocated within the framework of the so-called Initiative for the Support of Ukraine in the Field of Security (USAI) and will go to "perform additional tasks of training, equipping and advising to strengthen the country's ability to more effectively defend itself in the face of Russian aggression."
In addition, in its statement, the Pentagon emphasized that it considers Ukraine as a partner in rivalry with Moscow.
“This is yet another confirmation of our commitment to long-established defense relations between the United States and Ukraine, our critical partner at the forefront of strategic rivalry with Russia. The United States is still firmly committed to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, ”the release of the US defense department says.
As Ukrainian political scientist and economist Alexander Dudchak suggested in an interview with RT, such assistance will be used by the Kiev authorities in armed operations against residents of Donbass.
“The United States is providing assistance to Ukraine, which is at war with its people. Residents of Donbass do not want to live under the rule of Kiev, they do not agree with the results of the coup, so they tried to defend the constitutional order in the country. The fact that the US allocates funds to Ukraine, demonstrates the fact of interference in this conflict, as well as support for actions that violate the norms of law and international law, ”the political scientist noted.
Any help in the form of arms and technology supplies, as well as the exchange of experience with the American army will lead to an increase in the number of victims, including among the civilian population of Donbass, Dudchak is sure.
In turn, military expert Yuri Knutov recalled that, despite statements about self-defense, the USAI program is aimed at strengthening precisely the offensive capabilities of the Armed Forces.
“The Pentagon allocates funds to Ukraine for the purchase of sniper rifles, Javelin ATGMs, which allow fighting armored vehicles, various radar stations, and communications equipment,” the expert said in an interview with RT.
Under the banner of anti-corruption
The Pentagon statement emphasizes that the allocation of $ 125 million from this tranche was directly related to the implementation of reforms in the military industry.
“These security cooperation programs are being implemented thanks to Ukraine’s progress in key organizational and anti-corruption reforms in the defense sector,” the statement said.
- Pentagon Headquarters US Department of Defense
- AFP
In late May, the department informed the US Congress that Kiev allegedly carried out the necessary reforms to transfer financing in the field of civilian oversight of the defense sector, transparency and the fight against corruption. Such conditions for the allocation of assistance to Ukraine were spelled out in the law on the US defense budget (National Defense Authorization Act) for 2020.
In addition to direct financing, the US aid package provides for the transfer to Ukraine of two patrol boats, mobile radar systems for tracking artillery and missile attacks, several dozen ambulances, as well as communications equipment, in particular, some “tactical tablets”.
At the same time, the Pentagon statement noted that Washington will continue to support Ukraine in carrying out reforms.
“The United States is still committed to helping Ukraine implement defense and anti-corruption reforms in line with Euro-Atlantic principles. These reforms will expand Ukraine’s ability to protect its territorial integrity and help it become a safe, prosperous, democratic and free country, ”the statement said.
According to Alexander Dudchak, Washington uses the theme of the fight against corruption as a lever of pressure on the Ukrainian authorities.
“Corruption is a very convenient occasion that the US uses in a controlled country if it is necessary to exert pressure on it. Undoubtedly, the level of corruption in today's Ukraine is going through the roof. But in this case, Washington uses this pretext in order to put its people in key posts, strengthen its influence on the Ukrainian government from the outside and erode the concept of state sovereignty, ”the expert is sure.
Yuri Knutov agrees with this assessment, who, in a conversation with RT, stressed that such motivations actually confirm the complete dependence of the Kiev authorities on Washington.
“This situation once again demonstrates that Ukraine has ceased to be an independent state. Kiev has actually turned into an enclave controlled by Washington, ”the expert said.
Discrepancy in estimates
It is worth noting that, despite the Pentagon's words about progress in the field of anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine, official Kiev recently made the exact opposite statement.
So, speaking on March 4 in the Verkhovna Rada, President Vladimir Zelensky said that, despite the victory over corruption promised to citizens, so far no success has been achieved in this area.
- Armed Forces Armed Forces
- Reuters
- © Konstantin Chernichkin
“We carried out a series of reforms, launched the Higher Anti-Corruption Court, rebooted the NACP, returned responsibility for illegal enrichment, lifted immunity, and passed a law on accusers of corruption. How long will Ukrainian society wait for results in the most resonant cases? We promised citizens victory over corruption. Now it’s not even a draw, ”Zelensky said.
Addressing the parliamentarians, the President of Ukraine recalled that six departments are already functioning in the country that monitor the provision of justice.
“Is there really not enough one more organ to finally realize the proverb about the seven nannies who have a child without an eye?” Zelensky asked.
Recall that in 2019, the Trump administration froze the allocation of military assistance to Ukraine, citing a high level of corruption in the country. This decision was interpreted by the Democrats as an attempt by the US president to use his official position for personal gain. From the point of view of opponents, Trump wanted to put pressure on the Ukrainian leadership to obtain information from him that would discredit his potential rival in the election of Joe Biden.
In September 2019, the House of Representatives initiated impeachment of the president, but the Senate acquitted Trump.
At the same time, as Yury Knutov reminded, the fight against corruption was one of the central points of Zelensky’s political program, but he really failed to achieve any significant results during the year of his presidency. As for the Pentagon, its conclusion on the successes of Ukraine in the field of the fight against corruption is simply false, the expert said.
“In fact, Zelensky simply created the illusion for the Ukrainian people that the authorities allegedly are fighting corruption. And the American military leaders and lobbyists of the military-industrial complex are likely to receive certain privileges that the Ukrainian authorities provide them in exchange for reports to their leadership that this struggle is in full swing in the country, ”Knutov concluded.