Trump Administration to Review US Strategic Approach to Ukraine - Congressman

© Sputnik / Stringer / Go to the mediabankIndependence Square in Kiev. (File)
Independence Square in Kiev. (File) - Sputnik International
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The new administration under President-elect Donald Trump will assess US strategy toward Ukraine, Congressman Robert Wittman told Sputnik on the sidelines of the Defense Forum in Washington, DC.

Ukrainian servicemen at the opening of a multinational training of Ukrainian Armed Forces units held on the territory of the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre of the National Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi Land Forces Academy in Lviv Region - Sputnik International
US to Help With Training Up to Four Ukrainian Battalions in 2017
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Since 2014, the United States has provided Ukraine with $600 million in military assistance, including training, equipment and reform advisory effort, according to the US Department of Defense.

"I don’t know whether the first effort would be assistance, but I do think that this administration will address the strategic elements of what we do in our relationship with Ukraine," Smith stated on Wednesday.

Smith, a member of US House Committee on Armed Services, said the Trump administration will have to determine what kind of assistance the United States should provide.

He noted that it could be monetary or strategic support in form of military aid.

Self propelled howitzers drive during a rehearsal for the Independence Day military parade in the centre of Kiev, Ukraine, August 19, 2016 - Sputnik International
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"I do think we have to ask some strategic questions," Smith added. "What can we do in conjunction with our NATO partners to be an assist to countries like Ukraine, countries like Georgia that continue to kind of get pushed by Russia?"

Ukraine relies heavily on foreign aid to support its economy and repay debts amid an ongoing armed conflict between government forces and pro-independence campaigners in the country's southeast.

Russia has repeatedly refuted allegations of involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, warning that the Western sanctions introduced against Moscow over the matter are counterproductive and undermine global stability.

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