WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US House Armed Services Committee passed the NDAA early on Thursday morning without amending the text dealing with Ukraine.
The US NDAA appropriates a total of $611.8 billion, approximately equivalent to President Obama’s fiscal year 2016 request.
“[The US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)] would authorize the Secretary of Defense, in concurrence with the Secretary of State, to provide assistance and sustainment to the military and national security forces of Ukraine through September 30, 2016,” the bill stated.
The US Congress will “authorize appropriations of $200 million” to carry out this authority.
The legislation will give US administration officials “the explicit authority…. to provide lethal weapons of a defensive nature” to Ukraine, according to the legislation.
The $200 million appropriation is intended to address the US Congress’ concerns that President Barack Obama “has not done enough to provide military training and assistance to Ukraine,” Congressman Mac Thornberry said in his executive summary of the NDAA.
The funds will “allow [Ukraine] to better defend itself and increase the costs to Russia,” he said.
