U.S. approves sale of 16 patrol boats to Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says the United States has approved the sale of 16 Mark VI patrol boats and related equipment to Ukraine.

"The United States has approved the sale of up to 16 Mark VI patrol boats and related equipment to Ukraine. This will help the Ukrainian Navy meet current and future threats in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. I highly appreciate the continued ironclad support of U.S. partners," he wrote on Twitter on July 18. According to the minister, the Mark VI is a modern and maneuverable vessel designed for coastal deployment. "Six boats are currently being prepared for Ukraine using U.S. security assistance funds. The remaining vessels will be available for Ukraine to purchase using its military budget," he said. "The approval is a sign of deepening trust. The U.S. support, together with the reform of the national security and defense sector and defense industry, will help Ukraine establish modern NATO-interoperable Armed Forces, capable of effectively countering Russian aggression," he summed up. As UNIAN reported earlier, the U.S. State Department cleared a potential sale to Ukraine of 16 Mark VI patrol boats and other gear worth US$600 million.

Unian