US to Raise Financial Support to Ukraine Next Year

On Dec. 18, 2015, President Barack Obama signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, passed by the Congress earlier that day.

According to the Act, the U.S. assistance to Ukraine will significantly increase, Censor.NET reports citing Embassy of Ukraine in the United States of America.

Of the funds appropriated by the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2016, the constituting part of the omnibus legislation, not less than $658,185,000 shall be made available for assistance for Ukraine, which is $145 million above the initial request.

Combined with resources from other funds that may become available for the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense, the total amount of funds for the defense and security assistance to Ukraine may exceed the authorized level of $300 millions allocated for Ukraine in the National Defense Authorization Act, 2016. These appropriations also include $250 millions to be available to the Secretary of Defense to provide Ukraine with assistance, including training; equipment; lethal weapons of a defensive nature; logistics support, supplies and services; sustainment; and intelligence support to the military and national security forces of Ukraine.

Another important provision of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, lifts a 40-year ban on the national crude oil exports. The decision will also assist efforts to strengthen the European energy security, as well as to decrease Ukraine's reliance on the Russian energy resources.