John Kerry arrives in Kiev with $16.4 mn for humanitarian aid
6 Feb 2015 1:16 AM GMT
Amid a fast-moving flurry of international diplomacy, Kerry arrived in Kiev on Thursday bringing with him a modest amount of $16.4 million in new US humanitarian aid, but also the potential for lethal weaponry that the country’s leaders say they desperately need to defend themselves and turn back renewed rebel pushes in the east.
Officials with Kerry said he would discuss those needs with Ukrainian officials as well as new initiatives to resurrect a moribund ceasefire and resume a political dialogue to end the conflict.
Kerry is one of three top administration officials in Europe this week with a primary focus on Ukraine. Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is already in Belgium attending NATO meetings in Brussels, where Vice President Joe Biden is expected on Friday. Biden and Kerry will join forces in Germany at an international security conference in Munich, expected to be dominated by Ukraine and western tensions with Russia. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama’s pick to run the Pentagon told Congress he is very inclined to support lethal weapons transfers to Ukraine.
The comments were the latest signal the White House may reverse its opposition to arming Ukraine to help its struggling military repel Moscow-backed insurgents despite concerns that might escalate the conflict, turn it into an overt proxy war with Russia and set Washington at odds with its European partners.
In Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko said his government badly needs lethal aid to help repel the separatist attacks in the conflict that that has left 5,300 people dead.
Officials with Kerry said he would discuss those needs with Ukrainian officials as well as new initiatives to resurrect a moribund ceasefire and resume a political dialogue to end the conflict.
Kerry is one of three top administration officials in Europe this week with a primary focus on Ukraine. Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is already in Belgium attending NATO meetings in Brussels, where Vice President Joe Biden is expected on Friday. Biden and Kerry will join forces in Germany at an international security conference in Munich, expected to be dominated by Ukraine and western tensions with Russia. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama’s pick to run the Pentagon told Congress he is very inclined to support lethal weapons transfers to Ukraine.
The comments were the latest signal the White House may reverse its opposition to arming Ukraine to help its struggling military repel Moscow-backed insurgents despite concerns that might escalate the conflict, turn it into an overt proxy war with Russia and set Washington at odds with its European partners.
In Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko said his government badly needs lethal aid to help repel the separatist attacks in the conflict that that has left 5,300 people dead.
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