US military forces in Ukraine are reportedly carrying out on-site inspections to ensure that the money and weapons provided to Ukrainian troops are properly accounted for.
A senior US defense official relayed the information to Pentagon reporters on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was not clear where the inspections took place or how close the US troops were to the battlefield. US President Joe Biden has ruled out any combat role for US forces inside Ukraine.
FILE: Cars pass Independence Square at dusk in Kiev, Ukraine on Monday, October 31, 2022.
(AP Photo / Andrew Kravchenko)
According to the official, the US defense attaché and the cooperation team of the US Defense Office in Kiev are carrying out the inspections. The official said Ukrainian officials have so far been transparent about the distribution of weapons and are supporting inspections.
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“We will continue to work with our colleagues across the US government and with our international partners to ensure accountability for security assistance now and in the future,” the official told reporters.
A 155mm bullet fuse pallet, ultimately destined for Ukraine, is spun as it is loaded onto a C-17 cargo plane on April 29, 2022, at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
(Photo AP PhoAP / Alex Brandon, Fileto / Alex Brandon, File)
The effort is part of a broader US campaign to ensure that weapons supplied to Ukrainian troops do not end up in the hands of Russian forces, their delegates or other extremist groups.
Lawmakers have been urging US officials for questions about how the billions of dollars sent to Ukraine this year are being spent. The Biden administration has been reluctant to detail its work on this front due to concerns about the state of the conflict and fears it could suggest potential traffickers to potential evasion techniques.
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The State Department’s plan includes initiatives of various timelines to strengthen US and Ukrainian control of transferred weapons, in particular more advanced missile systems and anti-aircraft devices, as well as to improve Ukraine’s air and border security to combat misuse. of weapons and prevent possible arms trafficking.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
