Russian leadership approved aggressive actions of jets that damaged U.S. drone, U.S. officials say
Category: News & Politics
Via: perrie-halpern • 2 weeks ago • 177 commentsBy: Courtney Kube and Carol E. Lee
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Three U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence said the highest levels of the Kremlin approved the aggressive actions of Russian military fighter jets against a U.S. military drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.
The Russian jets dropped jet fuel on the MQ-9 Reaper, an unprecedented action, and two of the officials said the intelligence suggests the intent seemed to be to throw the drone off course or disable its surveillance capabilities.
It was "Russian leadership's intention to be aggressive in the intercept," said one of the officials.
One official said he had not gotten indications that the signoff went all the way up to Putin. Other officials declined to provide specifics beyond "highest levels."
The Russian jet actually clipping the propeller of the drone — which the U.S. says occurred and Russia denies — was likely not intentional, said the officials, who believe it was pilot error, based on U.S. video of the incident.
Three defense officials and one Biden administration official also said the Russians have already reached the area where the MQ-9 Reaper crashed. The Russians are actively looking for the debris with ships and aircraft, but the U.S. hasn't seen any indication that they've been able to recover any of it, officials said. One official said much of the debris sank into the Black Sea.
The U.S. is unlikely to try to recover the remnants of the crashed drone, according to the three U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence.
Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a news conference on Wednesday that there's probably not a lot of debris to recover and noted the part of the Black Sea where the drone landed is as much as 5,000-feet deep.
He reiterated, as other U.S. officials have said, that the U.S. took steps to disable software on the drone so the Russians would not be able to glean any highly sensitive information from it if they were to recover pieces of it.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in an interview with NBC News that the Russians were deliberately trying to get close to the drone.
"What we don't know is how intentional the collision with the drone was," Kirby said. "It is possible that this was just a reckless, incompetent piece of aviation by the pilot."
In lieu of additional comment, a spokesperson for the National Security Council pointed to previous comments by Kirby, Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The U.S. has said the drone was flying in international airspace over international waters. Russia has warned the U.S. to stop coming so close to its borders.
Milley said the incident is part of a pattern of behavior by Russia that has recently gotten more aggressive.
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No commentary from the peanut gallery?
I'm sure there are those who thought a spy plane flying over the Black Sea was fairly aggressive.
The only question now is what does our cowardly leader do about it?
Ignore you, and rightfully so, is my guess.
Great answer! Solves the problem completely! Brandon ignoring Vic completely solves the issue of Russia downing a US drone over international waters!
It also solves the entire Ukraine quagmire that Brandon has lead the US into. It also solves China/Taiwan problem. US gas prices. Inflation. Economy. Crime. Our wide open southern border and illegal immigration.
Brandon should be immediately and permanently be sequestered in the nearest basement; and given all of the ice cream he desires. It is the only way to insure make sure he always ignores Vic- who he has probably never read a comment of; or even heard of.
Brandon ignoring Vic (and reality it seems) will guarantee him and Democrats a resounding win in 2024.
So what's your suggestion other than some nonsense about basements and ice cream? Vic, and it appears you also, are part of Tucker's possy of shit 'army'.
Let him join the hate group
And you are part of the old Newsvine pile of shit army
Nice try, I was banned by them several times.
Good for them
BTW Vic, what did America's "cowardly leader" do in 2018?
What do you suggest?
It also solves the entire Ukraine quagmire that Brandon has lead the US into.
The US is NOT IN the Ukraine.
Russia is in the "quagmire".
Should the US and the European countries let Putin take any sovereign country he wants?
Remember when you and some other idiots on NewsVine created an attack nation nation to eliminate ButtHeads Nation?
How did that work out?
[Deleted]
Isn't your group all full up?
According to DickSantis it's a territorial dispute.
Is that what murdering innocents and invading a soverign nation means?
I wrote a short story dealing with drone on drone warfare back in the 60s.
Who knew?
Heinlein was also a few decades ahead of everybody else as well.
Yes
We also had ships in the Black Sea at the time- which is where the plane came from.
Did the fighter collide with our plane? Dump fuel on it? Damage it in any way? Force it to land?
Russia and China have been pulling this shit for the last several administrations. Remember the Chinese fighter that collided with our spy plane over international waters and it made a forced landing in China during Bush Jr's administration? Remember the drone that Iranian hackers brought down- in tact no less- during Obama's? Or how about the Iranians capturing US sailors and detaining them after one of the diesel engines on their craft failed at the end of Obama's reign?
WTF was our drone doing in the Black Sea when we don't have any vessels there? Think Russia is fucking stupid or something? That they don't know which country is propping Ukraine up militarily and financially? Is giving them tactical support by reporting where Russia's ships are so Ukraine can launch missiles at them?
This is just another provocation to the start of WWIII by both sides. But you can having a pissing match over which country started it when the nuclear missiles are flying.
You need to learn the definition of quagmire.
Is there any end in sight to the Ukraine/Russian war? How many billions or even trillions more are we going to send to Ukraine in financial and military aid? How much do you expect the US taxpayer to suffer so a bunch of Establishment prick politicians can prop up their family and friend kickback slush funds? How high will interest rates need to rise to combat the inflation caused by blank check spending on Ukraine?
Are we escalating the situation? Is Russia rising to every provocation? Is the threat of direct conflict between the US and Russia increasing?
No fucking kidding. More than one country can be involved in a "quagmire". See Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.
Love the hyperbole. Russia can't even take Ukraine. His army is decimated; and economy is wrecked. Even if he takes Ukraine how long will he be able to hold it? How much will it cost him?
Remember when we supposedly had a doctrine of not entering into military conflicts unless the US has something to gain? WTF does Ukraine have that the US needs so damn badly?
If Russia is such a threat why aren't European countries stepping more? The least they could do is combine to match what the US is spending in Ukraine.
Ukraine is Putin's quagmire, not Biden's...
aren't those the pressing issues that maga scum in congress ran on last election? maybe they'll get around to them after they remove the freedom of bodily autonomy from 51% of the population, finish destroying our public education system, and turning the first amendment into swiss cheese.
... and the expected pathetic reply. there, there, those days of soup and jello are just around the corner at the home for defective mackerel snapper relics of the 50's...
Somebody has some nerve....
Gathering intelligence I would assume.
Um yeah.
meh, I've been giving massive egos reality checks for over 50 years, why stop now...
I wasn't talking about you but yes, that someone does have an undeserved massive ego
it'll be fun watching his hero cleave his party next year, you know, provided said hero isn't at club fed by then...
Well, it doesn't exist today....
Really, so the US can just walk away at any time. Stop funding Ukraine financially, militarily, and giving them training and intelligence at any time. Just drop things and go.
Without a bunch of arm chair warriors screaming "Russia will take over all of Europe!"
Without our NATO allies throwing a massive hissy fit and demanding more US troops be stationed at every NATO country bordering Ukraine. We already have troops stationed there; but they won't be nearly enough to contain NATO's hysteria.
Brandon couldn't back out Ukraine if he wanted to. That is the very definition of quagmire. A never ending war sucking down our money, military hardware and resources, and draining our economy through inflation.
But keep spinning as more banks fail due to Brandon, Democrat, and Establishment Republican stupidity.
... full of something.
Hopefully, send Tucker Carlson to deal with it which would mean sucking on an ice cream cone and whining which Warrior Carlson is excellent at.
Fox News answer to Steven Segal.
drop him over the russian lines with a sack of swanson TV dinners...
That little orchid would shit his pants if he ever had to leave his cozy Fox office
he might be safer over there after dominion neuters rupert and the FOX limo and security go away.
You think someone like Don Lemon wouldn't?
Nah.
Don Lemon is gay.
He's not interested in Michelle Yeoh.
Of course not, he just doesn’t want to be beat up by her.
possibly, but I don't he's a russian collaborator. tucker carlson definitely is, and has admitted he is willing to lie for profit.
Exactly, Don wasn't lying when he said that he felt that women over 20, 30, 40 were past their prime.
Well, he was a democrat for 15 years, so I imagine it is very difficult to get that many years of stink off you.
No shit?
Perhaps he is afraid of her.
... how long do you think it'll take to get the stench of trumpski off the GOP?
What do you suggest, tough guy?
Do you think we need to go to war with Russia over this incident?
Arm chair warriors who have never seen the shit are first to call for it.
Where have you served?
I can't answer for cjcold (or anyone else) butt I served in VF-102 on the USS Independence (mainly).
I enjoyed serving (nobody was shooting at us) and we didn't lose a drop of the ocean on my watch.
Did you see any combat?
You do know that there are more planes in the ocean than there are ships in the sky - right?
why travel when there's plenty of russian collaborators already here...
Didn't Steele collaborate with Russians? Didn;t Hillary pay for him to do it?
got anything from this decade? and turn off FOX news...
Do you have anything at all? And quit watching Soros liberal propaganda stations.
Biden will do nothing other than claim we are supporting Ukraine, so Russia doesn't overrun Europe. Very much like LBJ told America that if we did not support South Vietnam that communism would be on our doorstep.
You are comparing apples and oranges.
We sent thousands of soldiers into Vietnam to support an unpopular government.
We are sending weapons and ammunition into Ukraine to support a very popular government.
Lots of American soldiers died in Vietnam.
American soldiers are NOT dying in Ukraine.
LBJ was so very wrong
We did not send troops into Vietnam to support an unpopular government, per LBJ we were there to stop communism form spreading per LBJ.
We are now sending billions to a corrupt government in Ukraine so Russia will not take over Europe per Biden.
LBJ was proven wrong just as Biden is.
FYI I was a drafted and served 8 and 1/2 months in country before being injured and sent back to the states.
Thanx for your service.
Butt you are comparing money (Ukraine) to lives (Vietnam).
Those are very different costs.
About a lot of things.
To President Biden the gop is his peanut gallery!
At least Biden isn't a fucking traitor like Donald Fucking Trump.
Do you think Biden should go to war with Russia?
YES! Russia is very weak at this point in time.
Who cares if a few nuclear missiles are exchanged./s
ridiculous fluff.
Did you really expect anything else?
Do you think it is better to fight a proxy war where thousands have been killed and millions displaced with a distinct possibility Vlad will use Nukes anyway if backed into a corner?
If that was a concern maybe we should have let Vlad take Ukraine and not subject a country to a year of hell and still have the possibility of a few nukes as a last Vlad act if it looks like he will lose?
Well with traitors like Trump we might actually survive as a country. Looking at what we have now, there is little hope.
That is old school surrender monkey talk.
Yet our Republic barely survived Trump...
That is mindless gibberish.
BARELY SURVIVED?
nope which is why I'm not disappointed!
Derp.
Finally, a new one. How many times do you think you will use this in the next few weeks?
Trump isn't either unless you can provide hard evidence of that. Besides I thought you lefties liked trailers like Jane (Hanoi Jane) and John (our soldiers are like Genghis Khan) Kerry and Gary Bergdhal and others.
“Trump isn't…”
….anything but an aberration, an opportunist, a blot in our history that will forever be compared to incompetency, incoherence, insecurity, and insurrection.
and he's fat
…and fatuous.
... the 4 cornerstones of maga christo-fascism.
And he was a far better president than the shitbird we got now
Why does Stormy have Stacey Abrams panties.?
Why will hush money to stormy bring down an ex-president? Because it is self-imposed, self-serving and self-evident.
But it is not illegal..
I guess that depends on one's definition of treason does it not?
This thread illustrates that partisan Republicans are fucking cowards.
They call President Biden a coward butt they are afraid to say what they think should be done about the Russians taking down our drone.
It's easy to criticize Biden (as usual) butt without stating their own strategy, it indicates that they have no fucking strategy.
We are already hitting Putin in the mouth with severe sanctions.
I don't know what kind of escalation they may advocate because they are afraid to say.
Is Putin trying to draw us into a war by attacking our drone? If so, should we risk a nuclear exchange over a fucking drone?
The drone thingy is much ado about nothing.
Just boys having fun with their toys.
Maybe, maybe not. You don't think it is possible Vlad did it on purpose to see our reaction and a reaction of "much ado about nothing" will give him an idea he can get away with some more shit and our President will not wake up long enough to make a decision?
It's easy to criticize anything.
I would like to hear your solution.
Do you want to go to war with Russia over this incident?
Do you think it is better to fight a proxy war where thousands have been killed and millions displaced with a distinct possibility Vlad will use Nukes anyway if backed into a corner?
Yes.
I think we should provide Ukraine with the resources they need to protect their country from Putin's invasion.
We should have done that a year ago. Before thousands died, millions were displaced and the infrastructure was largely trashed. IMO the way we are doing it is cruel. I have to wonder if the US secretly hoped Ukraine would have gone quietly, or at least given up with the original pittance we offered them.
Hell Biden has no idea what to do about the US border not being secure, yet he continues to send money to Ukraine to help secure their border instead of the pissant governments in Europe doing it.
Why do you mistakenly think that women don't fly AF drones?
I think Biden should flash back to the good old days, pretend Putin is Corn Pop, and really dish it out to him!
Are you advocating war with Russia?
Does "dish it out to him" mean something different where you come from?
I have never heard a human adult mistake "dish it out to him" for "let's go to war".
That is how some minds think, very sad indeed.
Talk about disconnect.
Brandon claims he forced Corn Pop to back down from a fight in which Brandon was outnumbered.
How about Brandon grab his imaginary chain and head to Russia for a one on one with Putin?
I am sure Brandon can force Putin to back down the same way he did Corn Pop.
And yet, he persists.
I guess the sanctions aren't quite having the desired effect.
Do you want to go to war with Russia?
Is that what you think the words you read mean?
Why say exactly what you think we should do?
Answering a question with one.
Classic deflection technique.
Oh tex, how soon we forget. See 3.3.2. in response to a question.
We?? Got a mouse in your pocket?
Sorry your memory is poor.
The question he posed was so fucking stupid and far from what I wrote it wasn't worthy of even considering answering.
Of course, following the entire conversation would have revealed that to you.
“The question he posed was so fucking stupid…”
…as is that excuse…
If you can HONESTLY read my post 3.3 and still come to the conclusion that his 'question' was appropriate and actually related to my post, then I have nothing else for you that you would ever be able to understand.
You successfully quoted part of my statement.
Congrats.
Let Europe handle things in their own backyard.
Europe is standing with us on sanctions and arming Ukraine.
Yes we are the main contributor to Ukraine but European countries are stepping up. They have provided more tanks than we have and they're sending aircraft.
Poland to send four fighter jets to Ukraine 'in coming days'
Poland will send four Soviet-era Mig fighter jets to Ukraine - becoming the first Nato country to send planes since Russia invaded last year.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said they would be sent in the coming days, with others handed over in the future.
Though a welcome boost to Ukraine's air defence, the extra jets are not expected to be decisive in the war.
We agree that we are the main contributor. Can you explain why that is?
Is sending 4 planes after over a year of war is the best Poland (Europe) can do?
In addition to the planes, Poland has given Ukraine over 200 T-72 tanks, 14 Leopard2 tanks 18 Krab self-propelled tracked gun-howitzers, and a large number of Piorun portable surface-to-air missiles, among other equipment. Additionally mortors, ammo and small arms. They are also taking in Ukrainian refugees by the thousands as are many other NATO and non NATO countries.
Slovakia is sending 13 MIGS in addition to those that Poland is delivering.
I can explain why we are the biggest contributor since we are by far the largest country with the biggest GDP. If you took the contributions by % of GDP we are not the largest contributor. The Baltic countries and Poland are the top 4.
The weapons systems that have been sent by NATO and some non NATO countries are quite significant. If you take the time there are articles with what each country has sent to Ukraine.
In addition to that Norway just pledged $7.3 billion to Ukraine in addition to what they have supplied to date.
Thanx for feeding the troll.
Putin invaded Ukraine because he did not want it to join NATO.
Putin's stupidity has strengthened NATO. Finland (which borders Russia) is joining NATO and other European nations are following Finland's lead. Ukraine will certainly join NATO after they stop Putin's invasion.
The US has sent more munitions and money to Ukraine than all of Europe combined. Ukraine is not a NATO country by their own choice.
The investment by Europe is justified because this is in their own backyard.
The Biden admin should put their efforts into securing the US borders instead of Ukraine's borders.
It is Biden's stupidity to support a country that wanted nothing to do with NATO prior to the war.
You are obviously misinformed.
This is the actual information from NATO (a slightly more credible source than whatever bullshit you use).
Relations with Ukraine
A strong, independent Ukraine is vital for the stability of the Euro-Atlantic area. Relations between NATO and Ukraine date back to the early 1990s and have since developed into one of the most substantial of NATO’s partnerships. Since 2014, in the wake of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, cooperation has been intensified in critical areas. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, NATO and Allies have provided unprecedented levels of support.
Response to Russia's war against Ukraine
NATO condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, which gravely undermines international security and stability, and is a blatant violation of international law. NATO Allies call on Russia to immediately stop the war and withdraw all its forces from Ukraine, to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need.
Since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of eastern Ukraine in 2014, NATO has adopted a firm position in full support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The Allies strongly condemn and will not recognise Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, and denounce its temporary occupation.
NATO also condemns Russia's illegal attempt to annex four regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – in September 2022, which is the largest attempted annexation of European territory by force since the Second World War. The sham referenda in these regions were engineered in Moscow and imposed on Ukraine. They have no legitimacy, and NATO will not recognise them. These lands are Ukraine and will always be Ukraine. The overwhelming vote in the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russia's attempted annexations sent a clear and strong message that Russia is isolated and that the world stands with Ukraine, in defence of the rules-based international order.
As a result of Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, NATO Allies decided in 2014 to suspend all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia, while leaving political and military channels of communication open. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Allies have imposed severe sanctions on Russia to help starve the Kremlin's war machine of resources. Allies continue to refine these sanctions in order to increase the pressure on Moscow. These efforts will make it harder for Russia to rebuild its tanks, manufacture missiles and finance its war.
Since 2014, regular consultations have taken place in the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) in view of the direct threats faced by Ukraine to its territorial integrity, political independence and security. The NUC met for extraordinary meetings in view of Russia's unjustified use of military force against Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait in November 2018 and Russia's threatening military build-up in April 2021. Other extraordinary meetings of the NUC took place at NATO Headquarters in January and February 2022, focused on Russia's military build-up and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Practical support to Ukraine – the Comprehensive Assistance Package
In parallel to its political support, NATO has significantly stepped up its practical assistance to Ukraine. Immediately following the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed on measures to enhance Ukraine's ability to provide for its own security. They also decided to further develop their practical support to Ukraine, based on a significant enhancement of existing cooperation programmes as well as the development of substantial new programmes.
At the 2016 NATO Summit in Warsaw, the Alliance's measures in support of Ukraine became part of the Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP), which is designed to support Ukraine's ability to provide for its own security and to implement wide-ranging reforms based on NATO standards, Euro-Atlantic principles and best practices.
Under the CAP, NATO has helped Ukraine transform its security and defence sector for many years, providing strategic-level advice via the NATO Representation to Ukraine and practical support through a range of capacity-building programmes and initiatives. Through these programmes and tailored advice, NATO has significantly strengthened the capacity and resilience of Ukraine's security and defence sector, as well as its ability to counter hybrid threats. NATO and Allies have also provided extensive support to capability development, including through training and education and the provision of equipment.
Complementing the CAP, several Trust Funds have been launched since 2014. These Trust Funds provide resources to support capability development and sustainable capacity-building in key areas. Active Trust Fund projects focus on:
Completed Trust Funds have also supported Ukraine in the areas of military career transition; explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and countering improvised explosive devices (C-IED); the destruction of small arms and light weapons (SALW), conventional ammunition, and anti-personnel landmines; ammunition stockpile safety management; safe radioactive waste disposal and land restoration; cyber defence; and logistics and standardization.
Strengthening the Comprehensive Assistance Package
At the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, Allies agreed to strengthen the CAP and provide even more support to Ukraine. The strengthened CAP includes initiatives to provide Ukraine with immediate, short-term, non-lethal military assistance, as well as structures to boost NATO's long-term support. Under the Ukraine CAP Trust Fund, since March 2022, NATO has delivered projects providing support in multiple areas, including: combat rations, fuel material (including jet fuel), army boots, medical supplies (including first aid kits and pharmaceuticals), military training equipment, explosive ordnance disposal equipment, and counter-drone equipment. Additional projects are in various stages of development and implementation, including: further support to Ukraine in the area of C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers), amphibious bridging and ferry systems, shelters and generators, ambulances, fire trucks, tires, batteries, and winter clothing.
In the longer term, the Alliance is working to support Ukraine's efforts on its path of post-war reconstruction and reforms. The strengthened CAP therefore also includes initiatives to further strengthen and modernise Ukraine's defence and security institutions. Allies also agreed to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era equipment to modern NATO equipment and standards, boosting interoperability with Allied forces.
In parallel, NATO Allies have significantly stepped up their bilateral support and provision of weapons, equipment and training, helping Ukraine to uphold its right of self-defence, which is enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Allies are also providing substantial financial and humanitarian aid, including by hosting millions of refugees in countries all across the Alliance. NATO Allies have agreed to step up and sustain their support for as long as necessary, so that Ukraine prevails.
NATO stands with the people of Ukraine and its legitimate, democratically elected president, parliament and government. The Alliance will always maintain its unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders extending to its territorial waters.
Framework for cooperation
NATO-Ukraine relations were formally launched in 1991, when the newly independent country joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) , a forum for dialogue and cooperation between NATO Allies and their former Warsaw Pact adversaries. A few years later, in 1994, Ukraine joined the Partnership for Peace (PfP) , a programme of practical bilateral cooperation between individual partner countries and NATO. It was one of the founding members of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) , which replaced the NACC in May 1997.
The July 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership remains the basic foundation underpinning NATO-Ukraine relations. The NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) directs cooperative activities and provides a forum for consultation between the Allies and Ukraine on security issues of common concern. The NUC can meet at various levels, including heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs or defence, ambassadors and in various working-level formats.
The Declaration to Complement the Charter , signed in 2009 as a follow-up to the decisions taken at the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest, gave the NUC a central role in deepening political dialogue and cooperation to underpin Ukraine's reform efforts pertaining to its Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO. The principal tool to support this process is the Annual National Programme (ANP), which reflects Ukraine's national reform objectives and annual implementation plans. The ANP is composed of five chapters focusing on: political and economic issues; defence and military issues; resources; security issues; and legal issues. This includes reforms related to good governance, the fight against corruption, the rule of law, human rights, and the security and defence sector, in accordance with Euro-Atlantic principles and standards.
Allies assess progress under the ANP annually. The responsibility for its implementation falls primarily on Ukraine. The Commission for Coordination of Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, ensures the general coordination of its implementation by the state bodies.
The NATO Representation to Ukraine, established in September 2015, supports cooperation on the ground. It consists of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre (NIDC) and the NATO Liaison Office (NLO).
The NATO Representation to Ukraine leads on the provision of strategic-level advice under NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine.
Wider cooperation
Since 2014, in the wake of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, NATO-Ukraine cooperation has been intensified in critical areas. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine starting in February 2022, NATO and Allies have provided unprecedented levels of support to Ukraine.
But NATO's support to Ukraine and activities in partnership with the country did not begin in 2014 or 2022 – practical cooperation between NATO and Ukraine has been ongoing since the 1990s. Over the years, Ukraine's cooperation with NATO has been mutually beneficial and has covered a wide range of activities – from building Ukraine's capabilities and interoperability with NATO forces, to promoting reforms in Ukraine's defence and related security sector, to supporting non-military activities like collaborative scientific research and public diplomacy.
In addition to the Ukraine CAP Trust Fund projects described above, NATO's cooperation with Ukraine has been implemented through the following programmes and initiatives:
Furthermore, cooperation has been organised through several sub-groups of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, including:
Ukraine has also provided support for NATO-led operations and missions , enhancing the interoperability of Ukrainian troops with NATO armed forces.
NATO-Ukraine Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare
Against the background of Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine – not just the illegal annexation of Crimea, but also the use of cyber attacks, disinformation and other hybrid activities – the NATO-Ukraine Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare was established at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016. It provides a mechanism to be better able to identify hybrid threats and to build capacity in identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening resilience of the state and society. Projects in support of research, training and expert consultations are ongoing, with a focus on lessons learned, countering disinformation and enhancing resilience.
Resilience Advisory Support Team (RAST)
Since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of eastern Ukraine in 2014, experts have provided advice on Ukraine's contingency plans and crisis management measures to defend critical energy infrastructure and protect the civilian population. Today, cooperation focuses on improving national capacity for civil preparedness and resilience. In 2019, a Resilience Advisory Support Team (RAST) drew up recommendations to Ukrainian institutions with regard to the enhancement of national resilience. At Ukraine's request, follow-up expert-level RAST consultations providing technical advice to support the country's long-term resilience and civil preparedness activities took place in early 2022, prior to Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine also participates regularly in activities organised by NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre and has itself hosted multiple disaster response exercises.
Partnership for Peace (PfP) Planning and Review Process
Participation in the PfP Planning and Review Process has helped Ukraine set and achieve ambitious yet realistic objectives for defence and security reforms, transformation and capability development; for improving the ability of its forces to operate alongside Allied and partner forces in crisis response and peace-support operations; and for enhancing Ukraine's ability to host Allied and partner forces for exercises and training.
Building Integrity (BI) process
Since 2007, Ukraine has participated in NATO's Building Integrity (BI) Initiative, which provides practical assistance and advice for strengthening integrity, accountability and transparency in the defence and security sector. In October 2019, nine institutions of Ukraine's defence and security sector completed the NATO BI Self-Assessment and Peer Review Process, which provided a thorough assessment of institutional needs and vulnerabilities and offered a set of policy-level sectoral recommendations to improve good governance and pursue sustainable anti-corruption reforms in the defence and related security sectors. On this basis, a tailored programme of activities continues to provide two levels of capacity-building support – specific expertise to the institutions to enhance the good governance and management of defence resources (financial, human and materiel), and education and training activities to develop individual capacities and foster an organisational culture of integrity.
Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP)
The Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP) has helped to improve and restructure Ukraine's military education and professional training systems, focusing on eight defence higher education institutions and five training centres for Non-Commissioned Officers. Additionally, DEEP advises on management of the academies and universities, supporting faculty on how to teach and assisting in the development of courses on leadership and decision-making processes.
Air Situation Data Exchange programme
Ukraine joined the Air Situation Data Exchange programme in July 2006. It enhances awareness and aviation safety through the mutual sharing of air situation data, which improves the operational effectiveness of air defence through the identification, classification and potential de-confliction of aircraft. This capability has had particular operational relevance and benefit following Russia's further invasion of Ukrainian territory since February 2022. NATO has been working closely with Ukraine to provide the most relevant information possible.
Military Committee with Ukraine Work Plan
Participation in a wide range of military activities and exercises under the Military Committee with Ukraine Work Plan focuses on improving the interoperability and operational capabilities of Ukraine's armed forces, but also substantially contributes to ongoing security and defence reforms.
NATO Operational Capabilities Concept Evaluation and Feedback Programme
Ukraine's active participation in the NATO Operational Capabilities Concept Evaluation and Feedback Programme supports the further development of the armed forces, while also enabling the Alliance to put together tailored force packages that can be deployed in support of NATO-led operations and missions.
Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme
Ukraine has been actively engaged in NATO's Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme since 1991. A Joint Working Group on Scientific and Environmental Cooperation contributes to identifying priority areas for practical scientific cooperation in the framework of the SPS Programme. Since 2014, in response to the crisis in Ukraine, cooperation in the field of security-related civil science and technology has been strengthened, and Ukraine has since become the largest beneficiary of the SPS Programme. Leading areas of cooperation with Ukraine in the SPS framework include advanced technology, counter-terrorism, defence against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents, as well as energy and environmental security. Among these activities, noteworthy is the participation of Ukraine in the DEXTER Programme, which is developing an integrated system to detect explosives and firearms in public spaces.
Other initiatives
In addition to the programmes listed above, Ukraine has participated in many other initiatives organised through the advisory mission of the NATO Representation in Ukraine.
NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defence Reform (JWGDR)
NATO and Ukraine cooperation in the area of defence and security sector reform is more extensive than with any other partner country. The NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defence Reform (JWGDR) is the primary focus for this area of cooperation.
Established in 1998 under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the JWGDR pursues initiatives in the area of civil-military relations, democratic oversight and civilian management of the armed forces and other security sector agencies, defence planning, development of policy, strategy and national security concepts.
The JWGDR allows Ukraine to draw on Allied countries' considerable experience and expertise, and serves as a tool through which the Allies can channel assistance. It also provides the institutional basis for NATO's cooperation with ministries and agencies engaged in implementing defence and security sector reform in Ukraine. These include the National Security and Defence Council, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, National Guard, Border Guard Service, Security Service of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) and others.
All NATO member states and Ukraine are represented in meetings of the JWGDR, and relevant partner countries and civil society representatives are invited to the JWGDR on a case-by-case basis.
Joint Working Group on Defence Technical Cooperation
Since 2004, the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defence Technical Cooperation has worked toward increased cooperation in capability development, defence equipment procurement processes, and the development of technical standards. This includes standardization, codification, logistics and life cycle management, as well as cooperation with NATO's Conference of National Armaments Directors and the NATO Science and Technology Organization. The Joint Working Group is also a forum in which Ukraine's defence industry reform efforts are discussed.
Support for NATO-led operations and missions
Ukraine has contributed to the peace-support operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina . It has also contributed to the Kosovo Force (KFOR), including with a heavy engineering unit with counter-improvised explosive devices capabilities.
In support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, Ukraine allowed over-flight clearance and the transit of supplies, and contributed medical personnel to support Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan and instructors to the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan. Following the end of ISAF's mission in 2014, Ukraine supported the follow-on Resolute Support Mission (2015-2021) to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces.
From March 2005, Ukraine contributed officers to the NATO Training Mission in Iraq , which terminated in December 2011.
Ukraine deployed ships six times between 2007 and 2010 in support of Operation Active Endeavour , a counter-terrorist maritime surveillance operation in the Mediterranean Sea. In 2013, it also contributed to NATO's counter-piracy operation Ocean Shield . Since the launch of maritime operation Sea Guardian in 2016, Ukraine has provided information in support of NATO's maritime situational awareness in and around the Black Sea.
Well DUH, of course, they have as I explained above.
That is simply not true. They have been cooperating with NATO since 1991. Their first application was in 2008. They currently have asked to join again and they have an application pending.
Good try at deflecting. The US border is not part of this article.
Looks like the Slovakian's are sending MiG 29's to Ukraine also.
Yep.
If Ukraine wanted to become a NATO member and adhere to its requirements, they did not.
Do you really believe everything NATO says?
Yes, NATO's actions are fully documented in comment # 3.4.9
Here's the link (again):
Those are FACTS.
What do you have?
You have an unverified opinion.
BFD
Seeing the forest for the trees obviously evades you.
Sorry, I actually meant Slovakians instead of Czechs. That's why I went back and changed it before anyone hopefully noticed. Guess I was not quick enough. My bad.
You posted (comment #3.4.8 ):
"It is Biden's stupidity to support a country that wanted nothing to do with NATO prior to the war."
I posted actual NATO documentation including the timeline that refutes your ridiculous claim. You cannot produce a real source that backs your statement.
You need to wake the fuck up and smell the coffee. That will help get the smell of bullshit out of your fucking nostrils.
factual documentation obviously evades you...
Where was NATO when Russia took over parts of it in 2014?
Russia is doing the same thing again and all of a sudden NATO goes into panic mode. Why is that?
I do not believe that NATO and its members are always truthful. Do you?
In other words we are doing all the heavy lifting and Europe is standing by and watching like normal.
A real leader would tell our so called NATO and European allies that as a whole they need to match the US dollar for dollar going to Ukraine. Also, they need to foot the bill for US troops being on the ground in NATO countries bordering Ukraine. Protection isn't free.
Instead we have Brandon slowly caving in to each of Zelensky's ever increasing demands; while NATO/Europe takes a much needed rest and invest in their military preparedness. Something as a part of NATO they already should accomplished.
We risked a nuclear war with the first support we sent Ukraine. We risk it with every new weapon we send them. Putin threatens the use of Nukes every day.
Wouldn't a measured response be knocking out a Russian drone? More saber rattling could be expected from Putin but do you think he would start a nuclear war if we drop one of his drones considering he hasn't done it with everything else we have already done? More then likely he would use it to try and gain support from his people for the "attack on a Russian drone" but let's face it, he lies all the time anyway.
Might be but unfortunately the Russians don't have any drones nearly comparable to the one they brought down.
maybe it is because it's the president's call to make., Not theirs.
And those sanctions are having little or no effect.
is that what fucker carlson is telling maga russian sympathizers?
Russia monitors the sea lanes for grain shipments out of Odessa in accordance with negotiated agreements. The negotiated agreements allows Russia to conduct naval operations from Odessa to the Bosporus and to impose restrictions on other countries operating in and over that sea lane. The United Nations was involved in negotiating that agreement. The US drone was in a restricted area over the sea lane and did not have a legitimate reason for being there.
The United States is not at war with Russia so trying to justify a US drone operating in a restricted area as being over international waters really just blows smoke to hide another botched up job.
The unarmed drone was operating over international waters in international airspace.
It's still a restricted area. Even the United States extends restricted zones around its naval operations in international waters.
Why are you spewing Russian talking points?
Why are you upset that the facts don't align with US military talking points?
All that brass doesn't mean they're competent. These are the same military experts that planned the withdrawal from Afghanistan. These are the same military experts that had difficulty recovering a Chinese balloon from 47 feet of water and we still haven't heard what was recovered.
You seem to be projecting. I'm NOT "upset."
All that brass doesn't mean they're competent.
The Russian pilot was incompetent when he hit the drone.
The Russians denied that there was contact. The video for the drone shows the damage.
the same military experts that had difficulty recovering a Chinese balloon from 47 feet of water and we still haven't heard what was recovered.
You won't hear what was recovered. That shit is classified.
Are you getting compensated for posting Russian propaganda?
Perhaps 'emotionally disturbed' would be a better description than 'upset'.
The tip of one propeller blade was bent. That's not much damage. And the contact could have been caused by the drone; drones can maneuver unlike balloons.
The prop would have vibrated like crazy but the drone could have limped to Turkey's airspace and Turkey's national waters. Turkey is part of NATO isn't it? The pilot abandoned the aircraft instead of trying to save it; at no risk to themselves. That's okay, just buy another one.
Classified? China already knows what the balloon was carrying. Why is the US military protecting Chinese secrets?
No, I receive no compensation from anyone. I'll only be expected to pay for the incompetence of the US military.
There is video proof that the Russian plane was at fault. You just can't resist being a Russian asset and so you try to blame the drone. Yes the prop was bent and you have no idea how that affected the drone. Butt you still pretend to be an aeronautical engineer and assume it was still flyable.
Classified? China already knows what the balloon was carrying. Why is the US military protecting Chinese secrets?
Derp. The Chinese don't necessarily know what we were able to salvage from the balloon. That's why it's classified.
Отъебись.Ot"yebis'.Which pilot abandoned which aircraft ? The Russians abandoned their jet ?
Putin has since personally decorated the two incompetent(?) Sukhoi pilots involved in this.
Neither you nor anybody here have any idea what the true extent of the damage as done to the drone. They are loaded with very sensitive electronics that the shock if the impact may have affected leading to the loss of control. The propeller impact could have been just the start not to mention the dumped fuel being ingested into the engine.
So you think the entire military is incompetent?
Well, that's correct. The military has only released enough information to support its own narrative.
A US drone pilot handed Russia a victory. A Russian pilot downed a US aircraft without firing a shot. And the US military could only respond with finger-wagging and name calling.
What were you saying about incompetence?
Yes, that is the Kremlin's take on it all...
"What were you saying about incompetence?" Based on your commentary so far, anything I could say it seems you would deny and be mostly unable to comprehend. Your past commentaries on the Ukraine and Russian situation have shown you to be pro Russian and anti Ukrainian. That is your right, but don't be surprised or ticked off that others with more knowledge and military experience may disagree with you. I'm done. Have a good evening.
That is the military mindset. If you ain't with us, you're agin us. From my viewpoint the Russians are fighting the Russians. We don't need to be involved.
It's like choosing sides between 'good' Koreans and 'bad' Koreans or 'good' Vietnamese and 'bad' Vietnamese or 'good' Muslims and 'bad' Muslims. It's really a distinction without a difference.
Zelensky is just like Putin and Putin is just like Zelensky. It's a distinction without a difference.
The only reason the United States has been dragged into this quagmire is the military mindset.
Yet you will still maintain that the gop is not being influenced by Russian propaganda?
The gop is calling for Biden to escalate.
That's the gqp. It seems they're all controlled by putin and support him.
BS!
Really, Nerm?
Trump, who is leading in the polls, certainly isn't calling on Biden to escalate.
The only other candidate who is in double figures in the polling is DeSantis.
DeSantis recently said he is also opposed to aiding Ukraine.
The GOP has become the Party of Putin.
So, it looks like the fucking GOP agrees with you, Nerm.
Am I talking to Putin?
Maybe it's a Russian bot.
That looks like a cross of Lori Lightfoot and Biden.
Rubio suggested that the drones have "wingmen".
Dumbass...that requires putting living, breathing humans in the path of Russian pilots who have orders to harass the drones. What does he think will happen if F-16s fly along side the drones? Does he know why the military uses drones more and more these days?
I missed that part, where was it?
Where does he say that the "wingman" has to be a piloted aircraft like an F16? Two drones are capable of flying together in formation.
Predator and other large US military drones fly singly for reasons. Two drones flying together in formation make for a larger and easier radar target. Single flying drones are more stealthy. Cheaper to lose one drone than two.
Any further aggression needs to be met with an equal response, a NATO response. If Russia wants this dance, then let's dance.
Ukraine is not a NATO member. That has been their government policy and all of a sudden you want to have NATO cover their asses?
This is a European problem not an American problem.
I seriously doubt that Russia will stop if they over run Ukraine. That is just the springboard for what Vicious Vlad has in his twisted mind. Ukraine and Poland are parts of what Russia sees as the new "Fulda Gap". In addition, are you suggesting we ignore our treaty obligations with NATO and other central European countries?
Vlad wants to make the old USSR whole again. Butt even if he achieves that goal, he may want to build on his success and gobble up more real estate. Putin must be stopped, hopefully by his own generals. If his generals take him down a nuclear war would not happen. If NATO takes Putin down a Nuclear exchange may be in play.
Sen. Mark Kelly flew with Russian pilots in the Navy and with NASA, and he said the Russian fighter jet running into a US drone shows 'how incompetent they are'
"I'm not surprised by this. I mean, I flew with Russian pilots, fighter pilots who couldn't fly formation. And I watched this video, and it's pretty obvious what happened. He lost sight of it, and he crashed into it," Kelly told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" Sunday .