US trains Ukrainian troops in Germany

U.S. service members in Germany have begun training Ukrainian soldiers on key systems being used to defend Ukraine against the Russian invasion, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

"These efforts build on the initial artillery training that Ukraine's forces already have received elsewhere and also includes training on radar systems and armored vehicles that have been recently announced as part of security assistance packages," Kirby said.

The U.S. is training 100 more Ukrainians on howitzer artillery systems in Europe in a five-day course.

Washington has said it will send 90 howitzers total to the embattled country as part of two security assistance packages announced this month that are worth $800 million each.

Another 15 Ukrainians are being trained on radars for about a week. The troops will then return to Ukraine to train their fellow soldiers on how to use the systems.

The United States is not the only country training Ukrainian service members. Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand also said Canadian service members were training Ukrainians on the M-777 howitzer in Europe.

This training effort is in direct support of recent U.S. security assistance packages "designed to help Ukraine win their battles today and build strength for tomorrow," Kirby said.

These systems are necessary to counter Russia's new push into the Donbas region of Ukraine.

This training package is just the latest in an effort that goes back to the break-up of the Soviet Union, but that intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and illegally annexed Crimea.

"We're here today talking about the Florida National Guard," he said. "But as you all know, they were preceded by others of their colleagues going back over the last eight years."

The bulk of the training on the new systems Ukraine is getting will be performed by the Florida Guardsmen. They can, of course, call on Army units in Germany to assist if they need it, the press secretary said.

U.S. officials want to make the training useful and constructive, but not onerous — meaning the Ukrainians are fighting a war in their country and do not have the time for long training classes. As such, the Ukraine military chose artillery personnel to learn to operate the M-777 howitzer. They have the background needed to operate artillery and just need to learn the peculiarities of the American system.

The same is true of radar operators. While they will receive American systems, these soldiers have already learned about radar and just need to learn what buttons to push, or what pulses mean on American sets.

Asked about Russian nuclear saber-rattling, Kirby said the U.S. continually watches Russia's nuclear preparations, and officials believe U.S. deterrence is positioned correctly. Washington takes any threats seriously and is prepared.-0-