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1 1 (February 9, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govefgd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Co nressiona e Uke U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine 0 February 9, 2022 In response to Russia's recent escalation of military pressure on Ukraine, the Biden Administration and the 117th Congress have considered multiple options to boost security assistance to Ukraine. Even prior to recent tensions, Ukraine was a leading recipient of U.S. military aid in Europe and Eurasia. Since Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, the United States has committed more than $2.7 billion in State and Defense Department (DOD)-funded security assistance to help Ukraine defend its territorial integrity and improve interoperability with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Overview of Programs Since 2014 The United States has used a variety of security assistance programs and authorities to help build the defensive capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) through train, equip, and advise efforts across multiple spending accounts. Two of the primary mechanisms are State's Foreign Military Financing (FMF; 22 U.S.C. §2763) and DOD's Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI; P.L. 114-92, §1250) (see Table 1). USAI packages have included training, equipment, and advisory efforts to enhance Ukraine's defensive capabilities such as maritime domain awareness, operational safety and capacity of Air Force bases, and the lethality, command and control, and survivability of the UAF. USAI also supports cyber defense and strategic communications to counter Russian cyberattacks and misinformation. A large portion of annual USAI funds are contingent on DOD and State certifying Ukraine's progress on key defense reforms. Ukraine also has received assistance pursuant to DOD's security cooperation authorities, notably 10 U.S.C. §333 and 10 U.S.C. §332. Section 333 authorizes training, equipping, and small-scale military construction for specific types of operations. Section 332 promotes civilian control of the military and places civilian advisors from DOD in Ukraine's Ministry of Defense. The Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), in which the President can authorize the transfer of articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval in response to an unforeseen emergency, also has provided defense items to Ukraine since 2014. In August 2021, the Biden Administration authorized a $60 million drawdown (Foreign Assistance Act, §506(a)(1)) for the immediate transfer of defense items from DOD stocks. In December 2021, the Administration authorized a $200 million drawdown after Congress, through passage of P.L. 117-70, increased the §506(a)(1) cap from $100 million to $200 million. Since 2014, Ukraine also has received International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance, which has provided professional military education at U.S. defense institutions for about 370 junior, mid-level, and senior Ukrainian military officers. Through the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, established in 2015, the U.S. Army and National Guard, together with military trainers from U.S. allied states, have provided training, mentoring, and doctrinal assistance to the UAF. The U.S. military also conducts joint military exercises with Ukraine. Separately, U.S. Special Operations Forces have trained and advised Ukrainian Special Forces. Other State Department and DOD-funded security assistance has supported conventional weapons destruction, border security, law enforcement training, and counter- weapons of mass destruction capabilities. Provision of Defense Equipment After Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, the Obama Administration limited its support to Ukraine to nonlethal security assistance items, such as body armor, helmets, vehicles, night and thermal vision devices, heavy engineering equipment, advanced radios, patrol boats, rations, tents, counter-mortar radars, uniforms, medical kits, and other related items. In 2017, the Trump Administration announced U.S. willingness to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine. Since 2018, Ukraine has used FMF, as well as some of its national funds, to procure U.S. defense equipment, including Javelin anti-armor missiles and Mark VI patrol boats through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system. Ukraine also has used a combination of FMF and national funds to refurbish former U.S. Coast Guard Island-class patrol boats provided through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA; 22 USC §2321j) program. In addition, Ukraine has purchased firearms, ammunition, ordnance, and other laser, imaging, or guidance equipment directly from U.S. suppliers via the Direct Commercial Sales process. According to DOD, USAI packages have provided sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, counter-artillery radars, Mark VI patrol boats, electronic warfare detection and secure communications, satellite imagery and analysis capability, counter-unmanned aerial systems, air surveillance systems to monitor sovereign airspace, night vision devices, and equipment to support military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures. Both PDA packages in 2021 included Javelins and other anti-armor systems, small arms, various calibers of ammunition, and other essential nonlethal equipment. According to recent media reports, the State Department approved export licenses for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to retransfer U.S.-provided Stinger anti-aircraft weapons systems and Javelin missile systems to Ukraine. Through the EDA program, the U.S. reportedly redirected Mi-17 helicopters originally intended for Afghanistan. ittps://crsreports.congress.g

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