Trump administration authorizes $10 million for Ukraine Navy

In response to Russia’s dangerous escalation and unjustified November 25 attack on three Ukrainian naval vessels near the Kerch Strait, the Department of State, subject to Congressional approval, will provide an additional $10 million in Foreign Military Financing to further build Ukraine’s naval capabilities.

“We do so in solidarity with Lithuania and the United Kingdom, also planning to increase their security assistance to Ukraine,” The U.S. Department of State said in a statement. “The United States calls on Russia to immediately return to Ukraine the seized vessels and detained Ukrainian crews, to keep the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov open to ships transiting to and from Ukrainian ports, and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters.”

This funding is in addition to $200 million provided by the Department of Defense in July for additional training, equipment and advisory efforts to build the defensive capacity of Ukraine’s forces among its ongoing struggle with Russian-supported forces in Crimea.