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U.S. senators call for Washington to arm Ukraine

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 31 August 2014
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. senators call for Washington to arm Ukraine, 31 August 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/542ac6de6.html [accessed 1 June 2023]
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August 31, 2014

Two top U.S. lawmakers have called for the United States to arm Ukraine in its battle against pro-Russian separatists and Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

Senator Robert Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Ukraine needed arms to fight off what he called a Russian "invasion."

Menendez, speaking on CNN from Kyiv, said Washington should provide Ukraine "with the types of defensive weapons that will impose a cost upon [Russian President Vladimir] Putin."

Senator John McCain (Republican-Arizona), asked rhetorically on CBS television: "Can't we help these people defend themselves? This is not an incursion. This is an invasion."

The Obama administration refuses to call Russian activity in Ukraine an invasion.

Moscow denies claims by Western countries and NATO that there are at least 1,000 Russian forces in Ukraine.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

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