American Senator: US to provide weapons to Ukraine for self-defense
Radio Liberty reports that Rob Portman, a Republican US senator, has said that the United States will provide Ukraine with defensive weapons, including Javelin anti-missile systems, in order to enable the country to defend itself against aggression by Russia and pro-Russian militants.
“I think the right thing for the United States [and] for others to do on behalf of Ukraine is to allow them to purchase weapons to be able to defend themselves, including these new weapons that are being delivered now... It’s primarily for defense purposes, because they [Ukraine] are not on the offensive, they are defending the integrity of their own territory," said the senator.
He noted that it is difficult for the Ukrainian side to respond to the actions of pro-Russian forces, which are armed by Russia, along on the eastern border, but also noted that the Ukrainians have managed to seize some Russian trophy lands.
“That is, things that are difficult for them [the Ukrainians] to defend against, tanks in particular…the Javelin missiles, which are part of this, are a response to that, to give them the opportunity to be able to push back and… defend themselves,” the senator said.
In Portman’s opinion, the arrival of additional weapons for the Ukrainian army will enable Ukraine to resolve the conflict in the Donbas more quickly and more peacefully.
"They will be able to say that there will be consequences if the aggression continues. And I think that will lead to a more peaceful solution, including an agreement to live by the Minsk agreement and Minsk 2 rather than what we have seen up to date, which is without being able to push back, without having consequences there was more aggression and, therefore, more bloodshed," Portman said.
The US Department of State approved the sale of 39 anti-tank complexes Javelin and 210 missiles to Ukraine for $47 million.