Washington, September 25 (RIA Novosti) – US President Barack Obama has authorized US Secretary of State John Kerry to allocate an additional $25 million to the Ukrainian government, according to memorandum released by the White House late Wednesday.
Obama authorized Kerry "to direct the drawdown of up to $5 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense and military education and training to provide immediate military assistance for the Government of Ukraine, to aid their efforts to respond to the current crisis," the memorandum says.
Additionally, Obama authorized Kerry "to direct the drawdown of up to $20 million in nonlethal commodities and services from any agency of the United States Government to provide assistance for the Government of Ukraine."
Last week, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, allocating $350 million in fiscal year 2015 on military assistance to Ukraine, including anti-tank and anti-armor weapons and tactical troop-operated surveillance drones.
The bill, which has not been adopted yet, follows a visit of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to Washington and his plea to Congress for assistance in addressing the Ukrainian crisis.
In mid-April, Kiev authorities launched a special military operation to suppress independence supporters in the southeast of Ukraine, who refused to recognize the new government which came to power as a result of the February coup.
On September 5, the Ukrainian government forces and independence supporters agreed on a ceasefire and an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange at a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine held in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.
