US Military Officers to Train 600 Ukrainian National Guards

The US government has announced that military training will be provided to 600 Ukrainian national guards in March.

The new development was revealed a day after US President Obama announced his support for the diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine. 

Pentagon spokeswoman Air Force Lt. Col. Vanessa Hillman stated that the plan is going to be executed by sending officers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in northeast Italy to the turmoil driven Ukraine, Washington Post reported. The training will be on effective use of capabilities and maintaining the rule of law.

She further said that the military help had been requested by Ukrainian officials as it will help the formation and strengthening of the national guard.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that Russia will aim to ''resolve this crisis using only diplomatic methods and through direct dialogue between Kiev authorities and the opposition that has proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics'', Itar TASS reported.

According to some US analysts, the training program was purposefully approved right before US President Obama's report to Congress due on February 16. Others disagree.

The US should send a message to Ukraine that a move for change is ''worth the effort'' and a gesture of support towards that move would cetainly encourage the Ukrainian people in the words of Kimberly Marten, professor of political science at Barnard College, Columbia University.