Deputy Minister of Defense: USA, Canada and Sweden to intensify military cooperation with Ukrainian Army  

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Kyiv, July 9, 2015. Several NATO member-states have pledged to intensify military cooperation with the Ukrainian Armed Forces immediately after the Parliament of Ukraine has ratified the memorandum between the Ukrainian government and the NATO Communications and Information Agency. Canada confirmed its intentions to double funding devoted to the development of the Ukrainian Army. Moreover, the Government of Sweden approved a tactical medicine training program for the Ukrainian troops scheduled to start in September. Also, a number of high-ranking U.S. officials visited Ukraine to discuss joint military projects that can receive funding in the next fiscal year beginning in October 2015, said Ivan Dolhov, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for European Integration, at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

Ihor Dolhov emphasized that the ratification of the Ukraine-NATO memorandum paves the way for projects outlined in NATO Trust Funds, namely in the areas of communications and logistics, medical rehabilitation, social security for troops and cyber-security. “NATO resolved to set up another Trust Fund for humanitarian de-mining in order to support the deactivation of unexploded ordnances in the east of the country,” Dolhov said.

Ihor Dolhov also spoke about fundamental national security documents approved recently. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the National Security Strategy – a cornerstone document that defined further actions in the area of national security. Public debates over Ukraine’s military doctrine and the concept of military-industrial complex reform have been discussed as well. In addition, traditional multinational war games – Rapid Trident 2015 – will take place from July 20th to 30th at the Yavoriv military site, Lviv region, which would involve armed forces of Ukraine, as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia and Lithuania.