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US Senators plan to provide $300 mln military aid to Ukraine

The bill authorizes the President to provide lethal assistance to Ukraine

© EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

WASHINGTON, May 15. /TASS/. The US Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday completed the markup of National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2016 that starts on October 1.

The bill envisages $612 billion funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. It authorizes providing $300 million funding for military assistance to Ukraine and $600 million for training Syria’s opposition.

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The committee said in a press release that the US will "assist Ukrainian security forces in defending against further aggression, including authorizing counter-battery radars and lethal assistance such as anti-tank weapons."

"The bill authorizes the President to provide lethal assistance to Ukraine," the statement reads.

In late April, the US House Armed Services Committee passed a bill envisaging $200 million for providing Ukraine with weapons and training its army.

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