Ukrainian Defense Ministry, U.S. embassy agree on expanded monitoring of weapons use

MOSCOW. Nov 28 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the United States embassy have signed an agreement on expanded monitoring of weapons end-use, which provides for regular inventories, joint physical checks with partners and special inspections.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry will provide additional transparency for storing and using foreign weapons from now on, Ukrainian media reported, citing the ministry as saying on social media. The Defense Ministry said certain types of missiles, launchers, unmanned aerial vehicles and night vision devices transferred by U.S. partners require careful monitoring and special storage conditions.

In fulfillment of this task, a joint concept was signed with the U.S. embassy's Department of Defense Cooperation, it said.

"All countries that provide us with weapons will be sure that they will not fall into the wrong hands, that they are under the exclusive control of the government and that they are used in a legal way," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Yury Dzhigir said.

Under the agreement, Ukrainian military officials are being trained to use special electronic devices and conduct inventories at the arms depots, bases, and warehouses throughout Ukraine. The Defense Ministry jointly with foreign partners will perform the required supervision over the availability, accounting and compliance with appropriate storage conditions from now on.

The U.S. experts will regularly participate in joint on-site inspections and provide advice on any required issues, it said. "Monitoring the use of U.S.-origin items is a joint responsibility of the partner nations and the US government," the concept said.