The United States is “actively reviewing” the possibility of providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis said at a media briefing on Aug. 24 following his talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
The meeting took place shortly after the “Normandy Four” leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany and Russia agreed to a proposed “back-to-school” ceasefire starting on Aug. 25. The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France held a phone conference late on Aug. 22 and agreed on a halt in fighting in the Donbas to allow children to start the new school year in peaceful conditions.
However, there is little trust in Ukraine that Russian-led forces will stick to the proposed cease-fire for long, as they have always breached such agreements in the past. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to seek strong defensive support from its allies, and the first visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis to Ukraine has been taken as a positive sign.
Mattis, who arrived in Kyiv on the evening of Aug. 23, attended the military parade marking Ukraine’s 26th Independence Day on Aug. 24.
“By being here, I’m making a statement that our strategic relationship with Ukraine is getting stronger,” Mattis told journalists.
Mattis did not say directly whether he supports the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine, but noted that having seen the situation with his own eyes he would be able to give his recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
“I needed to come here to better understand the situation, so that I go back and advocate for what I believe you need, as brought to me by Minister of Defense (Stepan Poltorak) and the (Ukrainian) president,” Mattis said.
Poroshenko emphasized the importance of lethal weapons for Ukraine as a deterrent to further Russian aggression.
He said Ukrainian intelligence estimates that there are at least 3,000 Russian troops currently in the Russian-occupied parts of the Donbas. Russian-led forces, including Russian mercenaries and local collaborators, number some 39,000 soldiers. The forces have Russian commanders and Russian regular troops among them, Poroshenko said.
It has also been established that 130 Ukrainians are being held as hostages in the Russian-occupied territories in the Donbas, or in Russia, Poroshenko said.
He said talks were continuing on the provision of defense support to Ukraine.
“We agreed to continue active dialogue regarding the provision of defense support to Ukraine, not only lethal weapons, but other equipment too,” Poroshenko said.
It was announced that the U.S. government had recently approved the aid of $175 million worth of equipment to the Ukrainian troops, bringing the total value of U.S. help to the country to $750 million over the last two years.
Mattis promised continued U.S. pressure on Russia due to its invasion and occupation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, and its fomenting of war in the Donbas.
“We do not and will not accept Russia’s seizure of Crimea, and despite Russian denials, we know they are seeking to redraw international borders by force,” General Mattis said.
He said that the tougher sanctions imposed earlier in August will remain in place until Moscow reverses its illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories.
