U.S. Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki has said that there is little question about the connection between Russia and gunmen provoking unrest in eastern Ukraine.
She said at a briefing on Tuesday, when asked whether the events in
the eastern regions of Ukraine are the start of civil war: “Certainly,
this is not a civil war… There is little question in our mind about
the connection between Russia and these armed militants that are
provoking this unrest in eastern Ukraine.”
She also said that the Ukrainian government was taking steps to have
their own staff and military to restore order and that “to promote calm
is hardly a civil war.”
“If the Russians and their supporters were not taking these
provocative steps, there wouldn’t be a need for the Ukrainians to try to
promote calm within these buildings and in parts of the country where
this is – where the unrest is occurring,” Psaki said.
She added that the United States was not providing or planning to
provide military assistance to Ukraine, in particular, weapons.
“We’re not actively considering military assistance,” she said.
Psaki also added: “We think it’s in the interests of all parties to
participate in a meeting and to give diplomacy a chance to work.”
