It is understood that proposals are under consideration in the US for providing defensive weapons and equipment to Ukrainian forces. Already the five-month truce has been broken. US secretary of state John Kerry and US joint chiefs chairman Martin Dempsey were open to discussions on such a line of action and NATO military commander General Philip Breedlove is also supportive of providing such lethal aid.
Even US national security adviser Susan Rice, who was opposed to such ideas, feels such action is needed in the present context.
John Kerry would be visiting Kiev for talks with President Petro Poroshenko and other Ukrainian officials. It may be recalled that in spite of months of sanctions on Russia, it has had no effect and Russia continues to arm the pro-Russian rebels. Till now, White House has not gone in for providing military aid to Ukraine in order to avoid provoking Russia.
However, with the adamant attitude of Russia, US could review the current scenario and could change its stance. The tentative plan appears to be to send $3bn in defensive arms and equipment to Ukraine, including anti-armor missiles as well as reconnaissance drones.
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