United States agrees to provide lethal ‘defensive’ weapons to Ukraine
Decision was part of Washington’s effort to help the country defend its territorial integrity and “deter further aggression” from Russian-backed rebels
The United States will provide Ukraine with “enhanced defensive capabilities”, the State Department said on Friday, as Kiev battles Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country.
“US assistance is entirely defensive in nature, and as we have always said, Ukraine is a sovereign country and has a right to defend itself,” the department said in a statement.
It said the decision was part of the US effort to help Ukraine defend its territorial integrity and “deter further aggression”, but did not specify the capabilities being considered.
Earlier on Friday, ABC News reported that President Donald Trump was expected to approve the sale of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, citing State Department sources. Any sale would need congressional approval.
Ukraine and Russia are at loggerheads over a war in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces that has killed more than 10,000 people in three years. Kiev accuses Moscow of sending troops and heavy weapons to the region, which Russia denies.
