The United States developing plan to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons

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UCMC presents a translation of an article by Ukrainska Pravda.

Photo: Ukrainska Pravda

The US military is developing a plan to provide lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine, reported  USA Today.

“The U.S. military for the first time is putting together a plan to provide lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine to counter a growing Russian military threat to Ukraine and Europe,” the article says.

It is also reported that planning by the Joint Chiefs of Staff requires the approval of the White House.

An official at the White House’s National Security Council said that the U.S. government does not rule out providing defensive weapons to Ukraine. The issue is being debated in the White House as violence spikes in eastern Ukraine, and as Russia prepares for a large military exercise that analysts expect will put more tanks on the borders of Ukraine and NATO countries.

At the same time, according to The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon and the Department of State have devised plans to supply Ukraine with antitank missiles and other weaponry and are seeking the White House approval.

A high official in the administration said that there is no decision on the lethal weapon proposal, and this issue was not discussed at the high-level meeting on Russia at the White House last week. According to him, President Donald Trump has not reviewed the plan, and his position on the issue is unknown.

Meanwhile, some American and Ukrainian officials stated that it may take the White House several months to make a final decision.

On Twitter, Senator John McCain commended the newspaper report on the plan for providing lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine.

As reported, US Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker said that  Washington is actively considering sending defensive weapons to Ukraine to fight militants in Donbas.

On July 26, the US Department of State stated that the issue of possible providing of defensive weapons to Ukraine is not being considered, but Washington does not rule out providing weapons.