KYIV, Aug 18 - The UK will lead a multinational Maritime Training Initiative for the Ukrainian Navy, boosting their ability to combat threats in the Black Sea, U.K Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said.

Visiting Ukrainian partners in Kyiv, Wallace also announced that the UK will send Royal Navy ships to visit the region later in the fall, where they will train alongside the Ukrainian Navy.

“We have already assisted thousands of Ukrainian personnel in a plethora of skills ranging from basic first aid to operational planning, all of which defends their territorial integrity from Russian-backed separatists,” Wallace said in comments released by the U.S. government.

“The Maritime Training Initiative will enable even closer collaboration with the NATO Alliance and Armed Forces around the world, and allows us to build on Ukraine’s new NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner status,” he said.

The training will be complemented by US security assistance support to further enhance Ukraine’s capabilities and situational awareness in the maritime domain to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression.

Wallace discussed issues of regional security and areas of mutual interest and cooperation in meetings with defense minister Andriy Taran and Ukrainian commander-in-chief Colonel General Ruslan Khomchak.

Ukraine lost much of its Navy capability during Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Ukraine has since continued to face a rising number of threats in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

In response, Ukraine has been rebuilding its Navy to protect its economic interests and its right to freedom of navigation. The Maritime Training Initiative will boost that effort, enabling them to uphold the rules based international order and European security in the region on which the UK’s own security depends.

As well as bringing skills, knowledge and expertise to the Ukrainian Navy, the Maritime Training Initiative will empower the Ukrainian Navy to work even more closely alongside international partners in defense of the Black Sea region. (tl/ez)