KIEV (Sputnik) — Since the start of the conflict, the United States and Canada have been providing Kiev with non-lethal military assistance, although Ukraine has repeatedly requested lethal aid.
In April 2015, Washington sent 300 troops to Ukraine to train the country’s National Guard while Canada decided to deploy 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel to Ukraine as part of a training mission.
"We have raised the issue of lethal weapons and conducted more detailed consultations on non-lethal equipment needed in Ukraine," the press service said, citing deputy parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy.
The United States has been assisting Ukraine with economic and non-lethal military aid following the 2014 political crisis and Crimea’s referendum to reunite with Russia. It has ruled out delivering lethal weapons to Ukraine on grounds that Kiev is capable of manufacturing lethal equipment independently.
