US to arm Ukraine with anti-missile tanks: Report
Senior advisers to US President Donald Trump have decided to present him with a new plan to finance and sell more weapons to Ukraine, in an attempt to counter what they call Russian aggression in the region, a report says.
Citing a US State Department official, ABC News reported on Friday that White House National Security Council (NSC) decided during a meeting on Tuesday to approve the presentation of a $47 million grant package that would supply Ukraine with high-tech weaponry.
“We have no announcement at this time," ABC quoted sources as saying.
Both the president and Congress must approve such a sale to the government in Kiev.
A former adviser to Trump, however, told ABC that arming Ukraine would not only inflame tensions in the region, but worsen ties between Washington and Moscow.
Russia has repeatedly warned Washington against supplying Kiev with such weapons, arguing that the move could seriously affect the balance of power in the region.
The Ukrainian government has been engaged in an armed conflict with pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine. It has repeatedly requested more advanced weaponry from the US.
The administration of former US President Barack Obama had refused to supply it with lethal weaponry and instead provided Kiev with $600 million in military assistance, including training, equipment, and advice.
In September 2016, the US House approved legislation to allow the supply of lethal “defensive” arms to Kiev. But it still needs to be approved by the US Senate and signed by the US president.
Defense Secretary James Mattis also pledged, in a visit to Ukraine in August, to review US military aid to the country.
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