According to the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Valeriy Chaly,the new bill of the House of Representatives providing for the allocation of $150 million in military aid to Ukraine is only part of $350 million previously approved for this purpose in the budget of the Pentagon, as reported by Ukrinform news agency.

Chaly stated that the remaining funds will be allocated after October 1, 2017.

"There is a budget for 2017. The current budget allocates $350 million in aid [to Ukraine] in fiscal year 2017. Afterwards, the bills on the implementation of this decision will be adopted. The current matter under consideration is the initial $150 million that will be provided before October 1 of the current year," Chaly said. He clarified that the remainder of the full aid package will be received after October 1.

"That is, the 350 million is still there. That's why this is a technical issue, there is no change in the approach," the diplomat said.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that in addition to the assistance from the Pentagon, there are the programs of the State Department that provide support to Ukraine. These funds could also be allocated gradually over this and the next year. Chaly stressed it is important that there is no delay in the implementation of these programs.

"All numbers should be seen through an understanding of the decision-making processes in the U.S. With regard to this case, we should not have any have concerns for now." Chaly said.

It was reported earlier that the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations prepared a bill that promises to allocate $150 million to Ukraine for the purchase of weapons, except for man-portable air defense systems. It was assumed that these funds would be spent before the 30th of September, which is before the end of the 2017 fiscal year.

The media reported that the issue of the United States supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine could be revisited after the Presidential elections.

  Ukraine, USA, military aid, Valeriy Chaly

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