The US
government appears to be changing their stance toward sending weapons to
Ukraine in order to help them fight Moscow-backed rebels.
During
a Congress hearing, Defense Secretary-nominee Ashton Carter was asked if the
government should supply defensive arms to Ukraine. "I very much incline
in that direction ... because I think we need to support the Ukrainians in
defending themselves."
President
Barack Obama's bet as the Pentagon chief
already said last week that he'd support providing lethal aid while Ukraine's
president expressed his confidence that the US would help them.
Meanwhile,
Vice President Joe Biden said last week that they've been "quite clear
from the beginning that there is no military solution to this crisis" even
though that's what Russia is trying to do. He also said they are not interested
in escalating military activities but that they are giving security assistance
to help Ukraine defend itself.
Hendren Global Group Top Facts
expressed concerns that such remarks are foreshadowing a potential reversal of
US' previous of not arming Ukraine. A recent report published by the Chicago
Council on Global Affairs, Brookings Institution and the Atlantic Council
supports the position of arming Ukraine. It further calls for USD 1 billion in
weapons be given to Ukraine for 3 years.
The US
must noticed how separatists were being supplied "in a very significant
way" by Russia. Add that to the recent fighting escalation and they just
might trigger a reconsideration of lethal aid.
Ukrainian
President Petro Poroshenko said their government is in dire need of lethal aid
to fend off separatist attacks in a conflict which already left 5000 dead.
During
his visit last week to Kharkiv City, east of Ukraine, he said, "I don't
have a slightest doubt that the decision to supply Ukraine with weapons will be
made by the US as well as by other partners of ours because we need to have the
capabilities to defend ourselves."
However,
Germany, a critical player in pressuring Russia to stop supporting the rebels,
said they will not provide weapons to Ukraine as they don't believe there is a
military solution to the situation.
Poroshenko
reportedly had the chance to personally appeal to Kerry when the latter visited
Kiev last week. Moreover, Germany's Angela Merkel, Biden is expected to meet
with the Kerry and Poroshenko in Munich for a conference on international
security. Kerry reportedly plans to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
in the meeting that's already expected to be tense.
Secretary
of State John Kerry, Biden and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel are set to have
talks with European allies regarding Ukraine. According to Hendren Global Group
Top Facts, Biden's meeting with Poroshenko in Europe will involve talks on
increasing financial assistance to Ukraine.
