Verkhovna Rada admits foreign servicemen to Ukraine for drills 2013
KYIV. April 18 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian parliament has approved the president's decision to grant access to foreign forces engaged in multinational military exercises in 2013 with 342 of 405 votes.
The presidential decree said Ukraine would play host to six multilateral exercises in 2013, namely, a Ukrainian-Belarusian drill supported by standby air defense forces, the Ukrainian-Russian exercises Fairway of Peace 2013, the Ukrainian-U.S. exercises Sea Breeze 2013, the Ukrainian-U.S. exercises Rapid Trident 2013 and the multinational exercises Maple Arch 2013.
Responding to the proposal of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, President Viktor Yanukovych resolved to admit to the Ukrainian territory in 2013 for participation in multinational military exercises under military cooperation plans up to 100 servicemen and up to seven planes of the Belarusian Armed Forces for two days in April-November, up to 100 servicemen and up to seven plans of the Russian Armed Forces for two days in April-November, up to 1,000 servicemen with armaments and military hardware, up to nine ships, up to three planes, up to three helicopters, one submarine and up to 30 wheeled vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces for seven days in May-June in the context of the Ukrainian-Russian exercises Fairway of Peace 2013.
The list includes the armed forces of the United States, other NATO member countries and states participating in the Partnership for Peace program (up to 1,500 servicemen with armaments and military hardware, up to nine ships, up to two submarines, up to twelve aircraft, and up to 50 wheeled vehicles) for up to 20 days in June-July in the context of the Ukrainian-U.S. Sea Breeze 2013 exercises, the armed forces of the United States, other NATO member countries and states participating in the Partnership for Peace program (up to 1,000 servicemen with armaments and military hardware, up to five planes and up to ten helicopters) for the period of up 20 days in July-September in the context of the Ukrainian-U.S. exercises Rapid Trident 2013, and the armed forces of Canada, Lithuania and Poland (up to 400 servicemen with armaments and military hardware) for the period of up to 20 days in August-September in the context of the multinational exercises Maple Arch 2013.