Statement of policy relating to Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative

Section 1250 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 129 Stat. 1068), as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (l) Statement of policy (1) In general It is the policy of the United States— (A) to assist Ukraine in maintaining a credible defense and deterrence capability; (B) to bolster defense and security cooperation with Ukraine as a means of building a future force of Ukraine that is capable of defending Ukraine today and deterring future aggression; and (C) to advance continued reform of the democratic, economic, defense, and security institutions of Ukraine in order to advance the Euro-Atlantic integration and modernization of Ukraine. (2) Credible defense and deterrence capability defined In this subsection, the term credible defense and deterrence capability means the ability to defend against and deter any credible conventional military threat from the Russian Federation acting unilaterally or in concert with partners, through the use of conventional military means, possessed in sufficient quantity, including weapons platforms and munitions, command, control, communication, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities..