A U.S. military honor cordon. October 23, 2015 in Arlington, Virginia. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Pentagon to boost its Europe budget in response to Russian threat U.S. to have more presence and exercises in Eastern Europe.

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to increase its budget for operations in Europe “significantly” to protect the country and its allies from threats by Russia.

Funding for the European Reassurance Initiative, a 2014 program under which U.S. exercises in the region have been increased following the invasion in Ukraine, will be “ramped up” in the 2017 budget request, the Pentagon’s top budget official Michael McCord said Monday.

McCord added that the exact number is still being debated, “but it's going to be a pretty significant increase."

The rise in the budget means that the U.S. can maintain “a higher level of presence and exercising, especially with our Eastern European partners,” which would send a signal to Russia about their commitment to EU security.

McCord said that more permanent investments can also be made, for instance by adding “additional presence” and “additional posture capability” in Europe.

The funding will not be used for dealing with the refugee crisis, “something that European nations have to handle themselves,” the official said.

The Pentagon announced in June that it would store military equipment in the Baltics and East European countries to reassure U.S. allies concerned about Russia's involvement in Ukraine.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is currently visiting Ukraine to show Washington's “strong support” for the country, a government official said.

Biden will reassure Ukraine that U.S. sanctions against Russia will remain in place until the internationally agreed Minsk pact is implemented, which means that weapons will need to be pulled back.