U.S. Republicans in Congress urge to send small weapons and military equipment to Ukraine 2403142

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Defence & Security News - United States
 
 
Monday, March 24, 2014 02:48 PM
 
U.S. Republicans in Congress urge to send small weapons and military equipment to Ukraine.
U.S. Republicans in Congress urged the Obama administration to send small weapons and other military equipment to Ukraine as Russian troops amassed at that country’s eastern border. Besides small weapons, United States could provide medical supplies, radio equipment and unspecified defensive military equipment.
     

Russian troops forced their way into a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea with BTR-82 armored vehicles, automatic fire and stun grenades on Saturday, injuring a Ukrainian serviceman and detaining the base's commander for talks.
     

The Michigan Republican was careful to note, however, that he does not support using American troops to confront Russia, which has annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

Deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken, interviewed on CNN, said the Obama administration was reviewing every request Ukraine is making for help.

The most recent alleged claims include a statement by Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen Philip Breedlove that Russia is moving more troops to the eastern border with Ukraine and that NATO is concerned about Moldova's Trans-Dniester region, which had earlier voiced willingness to hold a referendum.

Today, the Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on legislation providing new economic assistance to Ukraine, which could pass the Democratic-controlled chamber later in the week.

Russian forces gathering on the border with eastern Ukraine may be poised to invade, the White House warned on Sunday, as the government in Kiev said that the prospect of war with Moscow was continuing to grow after the annexation of Crimea.