Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has allowed the Defense Ministry to fully prepay expenses associated with the 2019 delivery of two Island-class patrol boats from the US.

A respective draft Cabinet resolution amending previous resolution No. 117 from April 23, 2014, was approved on Aug. 22 without objections during a Cabinet meeting.

Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency obtained the explanatory note attached to the document. It said Ukraine’s Defense Ministry is currently completing preparations for signing an interdepartmental agreement, UP-P-SAA, as part of the bilateral agreement with the United States for receiving the two Island-class cutters.

Under the agreement, the patrol boats themselves will be given to Ukraine, free of charge, for a period of up to 18 months. The Ukrainian side shall ensure full prepayment for related costs, amounting to $10.1 million.

Kyiv and Washington began discussions about supplying Ukraine with the 30-meter long Island-class patrol boats after Russia illegally annexed Ukraine’s Crimea in early 2014. Russia’s worrisome actions in the Azov Sea since May have pushed the two powers to reach an agreement.