U.S. President Barack Obama
signed into law S. 1356, the revised National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2016 on
November 25, 2015,
which authorizes, among other things, $300 million assistance for Ukraine,
according to the White House.
"The
Congress has now revised the National Defense
Authorization Act to incorporate these new funding changes and has altered the
funding authorization provisions to which I objected. I am therefore signing
this annual defense authorization legislation because it includes vital
benefits for military personnel and their families, authorities to facilitate ongoing
operations around the globe, and important reforms to the military retirement
system, as well as partial reforms to other military compensation
programs," Obama said in a statement
available on the White House's official website.
The law foresees, among other things, $300
million for Ukraine forces fighting Russian-backed militants, including $50
million for lethal assistance and counter-artillery radars.
The law also authorizes the president's request
of $715 million to help Iraqi forces fight Islamic State militants, identifies
$11 billion in unnecessary spending and reinvests it in fighter aircraft,
shipbuilding and strengthening cyber defense, and authorizes $3.8 billion for
the Afghan national security forces.
It also extends a ban on torture to the CIA.
"We welcome this important decision that
has demonstrated unity in the positions of the U.S. Administration and Congress
in support of Ukraine in countering Russian military aggression,"Ukraine's
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement on the
signing of the law.
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