The United States is mulling to send “defensive” weapons to Kiev forces, The New York Times has reported.
The daily cited NATO’s military commander, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove as one of the advocates of the move. He is now reportedly leading the crusade to provide lethal military assistance to Kiev to battle the anti-government forces of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics after failed talks in Minsk this weekend, NYT reported.
“General Breedlove has repeatedly stated that he supports the pursuit of a diplomatic solution as well as considering practical means of support to the government of Ukraine in its struggle against Russian-backed separatists,” the spokesman, Capt. Gregory L. Hicks of the Navy, told the NYT.Interviewing a number of decision makers that chose to remain anonymous until or if any policy shift on lethal aid to Ukraine is announced, the publication reported that Secretary of State John Kerry and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, are now “open for discussions.”
One official said that Susan E. Rice, Obama’s national security adviser, is also now prepared to hear arguments for helping Kiev battle the self-proclaimed republics. If true, this would signal a paradigm shift in the White House’s approach to the issue, which has so far been reluctant to escalate the crisis further through withholding any lethal assistance to Ukraine.
“Although our focus remains on pursuing a solution through diplomatic means, we are always evaluating other options that will help create space for a negotiated solution to the crisis,” said Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council.
Another Pentagon official told the publication that General Dempsey and Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, now also believe that providing “defensive weapons” to Ukraine should be considered.
“A comprehensive approach is warranted, and we agree that defensive equipment and weapons should be part of that discussion,” the Pentagon official said.
Source: Websites
| 02-02-2015 - 13:58 Last updated 02-02-2015 - 13:58 |
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President Barack Obama admitted that the United States brokered a power transition deal in Ukraine that has led to the current crisis in the country.
Commenting on the situation in Ukraine in an interview with CNN, Obama said, “We had brokered a deal to transition power in Ukraine” since Russian President Vladimir Putin “made this decision around Crimea and Ukraine.”
The US president also rejected the possibility of a military conflict with Russia, saying it would not be “wise for the United States or the world to see an actual military conflict between the United States and Russia.”Obama, however, reiterated that Washington would continue to put pressure on Moscow and reinforce NATO member states bordering Ukraine.
“What we are doing is reinforcing those border states who are members of NATO,” Obama said, adding “that line is one that cannot be crossed because we would have to take military action to protect our allies.”
Obama has already asked Congress for $1 billion in additional spending to bolster the US military presence in Poland and its neighbors.
Source: Press TV
| 02-02-2015 - 11:46 Last updated 02-02-2015 - 11:46 |
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