Ukraine: Daily Briefing – July 23, 2018, 5 PM Kyiv time

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action. In the last 24 hours, Russian-terrorist forces opened fire on Ukrainian positions on the Luhansk and Donetsk sectors of the front 15 times in total.

Minister Bibeau at today’s announcement in Kyiv.  Photo – Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada reported, “Canada believes that society is more prosperous, peaceful and secure when women’s rights are respected, their voices are heard and they can exercise their leadership. Women’s rights organizations and local women’s movements in Ukraine are key agents of change in advancing Ukraine’s democratic and economic reform, strengthening the rights of women and girls, and advancing progress towards gender equality.

          On the last day of her visit to Ukraine, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, announced up to $4.75 million in funding over five years to support a Women’s Voice and Leadership initiative in Ukraine.

The project will strengthen the capacity of local women’s organizations to promote and defend human rights and empower Ukrainian women and girls.”

         Minister Bibeau stated, “Women’s rights organizations and movements have invaluable experience in driving global and national action on gender equality. Local and national advocates often have the greatest understanding of the challenges that women and girls face, and essential knowledge of how to advance their rights and bring about systemic changes. That is why Canada supports women’s organizations and movement in Ukraine and across the world in tackling gender inequality.”

The United States Department of Defense stated on July 20, “The Defense Department announced today that it will provide $200 million to Ukraine in security cooperation funds for additional training, equipment and advisory efforts to build the defensive capacity of Ukraine’s forces.

          This reaffirms the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Ukraine, and brings the total U.S. security sector assistance to Ukraine to more than $1 billion since 2014.

         The added funds will provide equipment to support ongoing training programs and operational needs, including capabilities to enhance Ukraine’s command-and-control, situational awareness systems, secure communications, military mobility, night vision and military medical treatment.

         The security cooperation builds on Ukraine’s recent adoption of the Law on National Security. This law, which provides a legislative framework for aligning Ukraine’s national security architecture with Euro-Atlantic principles, constitutes a major step toward Ukraine’s goal of achieving NATO interoperability. The implementation of these reforms will bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend its territorial integrity in support of a secure and democratic Ukraine. A timeline for delivery and fielding of equipment will be determined at a later date.”

Reuters reported on July 20, “The United States on Friday rejected a proposal from Russia for a referendum to be held to decide the fate of eastern Ukraine, saying it would not be legitimate since the area is not under control of the Ukrainian government.

          The proposal had emerged in the days following U.S. President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday.

         ‘The administration is not considering supporting a referendum in the eastern Ukraine,’ said Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council.