Pentagon to begin training Ukrainian forces next month

The Pentagon said Thursday it is moving forward with plans to train six Ukrainian National Guard companies and a headquarters team in their fight against pro-Russian separatists next month. 

The training is scheduled to begin in late April and will focus on “internal defense capabilities,” according to Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez. 

“This assistance is part of our ongoing efforts to help sustain Ukraine’s defense and internal security operations,” Lainez said. 

U.S. soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vincenza, Italy, will conduct the training in Western Ukraine, near the border with Poland, she said. 

{mosads}Ukrainian forces continue to face off with Russia-backed rebels in Eastern Ukraine, and the U.S. is considering additional steps to penalize Moscow for its invasion of Crimea last March and its continued support for the rebels. 

The training was originally slated to begin this month, but was delayed after Ukraine and Moscow reached a second cease-fire agreement last month. However, the ceasefire appears to be on the verge of a breakdown. 

The White House has so far refused to provide Ukraine with lethal military aid, but has provided about $120 million in non-lethal military assistance, and has levied several rounds of sanctions on Moscow. 

“While we continue to believe that there is no military resolution to this crisis, Ukraine has the right to defend itself,” Lainez said. 

Vice President Biden discussed the training program with Ukrainian forces in a phone call Wednesday evening with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. A White House statement on the phone call said the two leaders agreed that sanctions on Russia should be tied to full implementation of two previous ceasefire agreements. 

“As long as Russia continues to fuel violence and instability in Ukraine, the international community must be prepared to increase the costs to Russia for pursuing such actions,” the statement said. 

So far, more than 6,000 Ukrainians have been killed in the yearlong conflict with the rebels.