P1 1WHEREAS, The California-Ukraine National Guard Partnership
2is one of 65 National Guard State Partnership Programs (also
3known as SPP). The California-Ukraine National Guard Partnership
4was formed in 1993, just two years after Ukraine earned its
5independence from the Soviet Union; and
6WHEREAS, The State of California’s partnership with Ukraine
7is among the most important and progressive partnerships in
8Europe. The California National Guard has actively trained with
9the Armed Forces of Ukraine to reinforce military respect for
10civilian control and rule of law while improving the
11professionalism of military personnel from both Ukraine and the
12State of California. Thanks to its strategic location, size, and
13population, Ukraine has the capacity to be one of the most
14influential countries in the region; and
15WHEREAS, Prior to our strategic relationship, the Armed Forces
16of Ukraine were in desperate need of restructuring, modernization
17of forces, and information sharing. Ukraine needed the tools to
18learn how to build a consensus among civilian populations,
19analytical methods for achieving their goals, and how to become
20a diplomatic leader in its region. Ukraine is now putting that
21framework to the test, and that is thanks to the support of the
22California National Guard; and
P2 1WHEREAS, As the current political and military situation
2escalates in Ukraine, the partnership between Ukraine and the
3California National Guard becomes even more critical. Through
4the collaboration, California Guardsmen have addressed a broad
5range of social, economic, military, and political issues in Ukraine.
6The California National Guard has worked to give Ukrainian armed
7forces the tools to help secure their borders, provide emergency
8response training, and other training to large, diverse agencies in
9Ukraine; and
10WHEREAS, Ukrainian military members have traveled to
11California to participate in disaster-relief exercises with the
12California National Guard and California Guardsmen have been
13deployed to Ukraine for antiterror exercises. Currently, the focus
14of the California-Ukraine National Guard Partnership is on English
15language training, strategic airlift collaboration, human resources
16and personnel management, humanitarian assistance, development
17of the European Union Battle Group, as well as how to best
18leverage relationships with neighboring countries; and
19WHEREAS, As the current conflict in Ukraine becomes more
20dire, it is important to reflect on the Ukraine’s military and political
21framework. Over the last several months, Ukraine’s borders have
22shifted, political leadership has changed, and civil unrest has
23ignited. It is the hope that the tools that the California National
24Guard has provided Ukraine remain useful, and that the safety and
25security of Ukraine be restored; now, therefore, be it
26Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
27Assembly proclaims its support for the California National Guard
28and the California-Ukraine National Guard Partnership; and be it
29further
30Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall transmit
31copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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