The US Senate (the upper chamber of Congress) voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday approved a military budget, reports Reuters. The total amount of funds allocated for military purposes, is $ 612 billion.
Among other things, the bill provides authorization to provide Ukraine assistance in the form of lethal weapons, said the channel Foxnews . The document does not explicitly commits to provide military assistance to Ukraine, but allows the head of the Pentagon to take advantage of this right.
In addition, the document allows the use of $ 600 million to finance the training program of moderate Syrian opposition fighters. However, in this case, the Minister of Defense will need to obtain additional Congressional approval every time he intends to spend agent for this purpose. Another $ 715 million is allowed to spend on aid to Iraqi forces in the fight against “Islamic state».
A draft law on the military budget also imposes a ban on cruel interrogation methods, prohibits US Administration to transfer prisoners from Guantanamo prison in the United States, increases the military pensions and spend more on cyber warfare.
Chances are good that President Barack Obama would veto the bill. As amended, make it impossible to Obama’s promise to withdraw from Guantanamo last prisoners and the prison closed, emphasizes Reuters.
As for the military aid to Ukraine, the USA and its previously provided but non-lethal weapons. In early October, Petro Poroshenko said about the US plans to transfer to Kiev new models of defensive weapons.
The debate on the supply of lethal weapons are conducted in the United States for months. Part of the military and Congress – members of the Republican Party – advocated that Barack Obama should take a tougher stance and begin to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. The US president earlier opposed the initiative, considering it a last resort.
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