Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Robert Menendez (D. NJ), was on CNN's "State of the Union" today, advocating that the U.S. start arming the Ukraine so they can fight back against Russia's invasion:
"We ... should be providing the Ukrainians with the types of defensive weapons that will impose a cost upon (Russian President Vladimir) Putin for further aggression," the New Jersey Democrat told CNN's "State of the Union" program from Kiev.
He said the European Union, NATO and the United States should work together to arm Kiev, which has been fighting Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine for several month.
Asked whether the Obama administration is considering such a move, Menendez said: "I think that may very well be on the table right now. These are changed circumstances."
President Barack Obama last week again ruled out U.S. military action over Ukraine and said there must be a diplomatic solution.
The Obama administration has stopped short of calling Moscow's intensified support for separatist forces in eastern Ukraine an invasion, and has said sanctions are the most effective tool in dealing with Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said it was imperative for the United States and Europe to provide strategic help to Ukraine now to halt what he called Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions.
Looking forward to your thoughts in the comments.
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