Will U.S. arms go to Ukraine?

WASHNGTON – A senior official said on February 4 that Vice- President Joe Biden would meet in Europe with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko later this week to discuss expanded sanctions against Russia and possible U.S. security assistance for Ukraine. Mr. Poroshenko, who meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Kyiv on February 5, has said he does not have “a slightest doubt that the decision to supply Ukraine with weapons will be made by the United States as well as by other partners of ours.” France and Germany have already said that they do not intend to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons in the near future. But Ashton Carter, President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the next U.S. defense secretary, told Congress on February 4 that he was leaning in favor of providing lethal military aid to Ukraine. Mr. Carter told his Senate confirmation hearing that he would “very much incline” in the direction of supplying weaponry to Ukraine. The Washington Post reported that he said: “We need to support the Ukrainians in defending themselves.” The Post also noted that, in response to a question from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mr. Carter said he would first need to consult with U.S. military leaders and Ukrainian officials before making a specific recommendation about what kind of weapons Washington should send to Kyiv. But he left no doubt that he supported the idea. His comments follow reports that U.S. officials are considering the possibility of sending anti-tank missiles, armored vehicles, small arms and ammunition to Ukrainian government forces. (RFE/RL)