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​Pentagon is Forming New Command Amid Threat From russia to Ukraine and its Neighbors

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Training of servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine under the leadership of American instructors / Зрщещ Photo credit: Brendan Hoffman / The New York Times
Training of servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine under the leadership of American instructors / Зрщещ Photo credit: Brendan Hoffman / The New York Times

The Pentagon plans to set up a new command to coordinate arming and training Ukraine. It is about streamlining the system of training and assistance, which was created "on the fly" after the Russian invasion in February. The new Command is likely to be based at Wiesbaden in Germany

That is according the New York Times, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

According to several military and administration officials, whom the New York Times cites, the system will be subordinated to a single new command, which will be based in Germany and headed by a high-ranking American general.

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Pentagon working to form new command to coordinate arming and training Ukraine, Defense Express
Pentagon working to form new command to coordinate arming and training Ukraine

Senior U.S. officials said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his top aides are reviewing the plan and are likely to make a final decision in the coming weeks. The White House and the Pentagon approve of this approach.

The new command signals the expectations of the United States that the threat from the Russian Federation to Ukraine and its neighbors will persist for many years, current and former senior American officials said.

“This recognizes the reality of the important mission of security assistance to out Ukrainian partners. This will also create a formal security structure that our allies and partners can adhere to in terms of getting their equipment and training in the hands of the Ukrainians,” said Admiral James G. Stavridis, a former supreme allied commander for Europe.

U.S Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Nickels observes Ukrainian Observer Controller Trainer Lt. Dmytro Suhai as his rotational training unit conducts an after action review following Military Operations on Urban Terrain at Combat Training Center-Yavoriv, Ukraine, Defense Express
U.S Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Nickels observes Ukrainian Observer Controller Trainer Lt. Dmytro Suhai as his rotational training unit conducts an after action review following Military Operations on Urban Terrain at Combat Training Center-Yavoriv, Ukraine, Sept. 29, 2020 / Photo by U.S Army Cpl. Shaylin Quaid

The new command, which will report to General Christopher Cavoli, will implement the decisions taken by the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine, a coalition of 40 countries that the U.S. Department of Defense created after the Russian invasion in order to meet the needs and requests of Ukraine. About 300 people will be involved in the mission, it will be located in Wiesbaden (Germany), the headquarters of the U.S. Army in Europe. A significant part of the training of Ukrainian soldiers on American weapons systems is already taking place there or nearby.

The ezine notes that the changes, which aim to give a formal structure to what has been improvised since the beginning of the war, roughly simulate the U.S. efforts to prepare and provide assistance in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past two decades.

As Defense Express reported, US to Double the Number of HIMARS for Ukraine in the New $1 Billion Military Aid Package.

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