UKRAINE COMPLETING ARMS CUTS UNDER CFE TREATY ON SCHEDULE.

Abiding by the terms of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), Ukraine has been reducing its combat hardware on schedule and will probably be in full compliance with the national quotas by the November 16 deadline, according to Ukrainian defense ministry officials. There are questions about only two units which fall under treaty-limited categories of armaments: the 126th coastal defense division and the 810th marine brigade, the two major Russian land units based in Ukraine and attached to the Russian-controlled Black Sea Fleet. Kiev is concerned that the combat hardware of these units, not controlled by Ukraine, may escape the CFE-mandated cuts. (12)

Ukraine’s compliance with the CFE Treaty limits and its schedule of arms reduction contrasts to Russia’s breach (see the September 19 Monitor).

Black Sea Fleet Update.