DYNAMICS OF US-UKRAINIAN DEFENCE COOPERATION (2014-2021): FROM B. OBAMA TO J. BIDEN

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the features of military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in 2014-2021. In particular, the volumes, nomenclature and goals of American military assistance to Ukraine currently, the main directions of bilateral defense cooperation are described in detail. It is determined that despite certain differences in approaches and emphasis in providing military assistance to Ukraine, the administrations of B. Obama, D. Trump, and J. Biden's administrations demonstrated consistency in logic and goals: Washington provided limited defensive military assistance necessary to deter Russia in the low-intensity conflict in Donbas. At the same time, the biggest qualitative breakthrough in the provision of military assistance occurred during D. Trump's term in office, when in 2017 the United States decided to supply Ukraine with a batch of Javelin ATGMs, thereby lifting the political taboo on supplying Kyiv with lethal weapons.

Demonstrating continuity in the policy of military assistance to Ukraine, at the same time, to the administrations of B. Obama, D. Trump and J. Putin. Biden had different priorities. In 2014-2016 US military aid was limited to non-lethal means, with the aim of reducing the losses of the Ukrainian army in the conflict in the Donbass and not exacerbating escalation. The administration of D. Trump, along with the provision of lethal weapons, paid special attention to reforming the Ukrainian security sector. Instead, he Biden administration has identified strengthening Ukraine's naval capabilities as a priority in providing military assistance.