The U.S. Congress has allocated more than $2 million to help Ukraine destroy thousands of tons of obsolete weapons and air defense launchers.
Senator Richard Lugar, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations committee, announced the program while visiting the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. He said the funds are being disbursed under NATO's Partnership for Peace program.
The senator said during the first stage of the program, the Donetsk State Chemical Works will receive $2 million from the United States and $1 million from NATO.
Initiated in 1994, the Partnership for Peace Trust Fund supports the safe destruction of stockpiled antipersonnel mines and other munitions.
NATO officials say the Partnership for Peace opened a new chapter in its relations with partner countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.