Belgrade, 27 April 2022 (MIA) – Part of the latest package of US military assistance for Ukraine will be allocated to countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reports. Responding to a request for comment by the Voice of America, the US Department of State explained the structure of the $713 million in assistance, saying that a portion of the latest US military aid will be allocated to Ukraine and 15 allied and partner countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The assistance, it added, is intended for the NATO allies to reinforce them after having supplied their own capacities to Ukraine in order to strengthen NATO’s deterrence. Over $322 million is earmarked for Ukraine to reinforce its capacity to fend off during the ongoing war with Russia. The investment of $322 million to Ukraine provides support for a wide range of capacities, including weapon systems that are not compatible with NATO standards, assistance for the Ukrainian armed forces to transition into more advanced weapons and air defence systems, essentially NATO-capable systems. Georgia will be allocated $35 million advanced field artillery tactical data system and cyber defence. The rest of the package of $713 million will provide defence assistance, training and services for Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania and Slovenia; support to the advanced target development initiative for Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia; and additional assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina to fend off Russian influence.