White House May Ignore US House Resolution to Arm Ukraine - US Congressman

The US House of Representatives Resolution calling on President Barack Obama to provide lethal military aid to Ukraine cannot force him to authorize such aid, US Congressman Mike Rogers told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Sputnik) — Asked about the potential impact of the Resolution on the White House, Rogers commented the Resolution “is urging him to do it,” but has no binding legal authority.

Rogers, who voted in favor of the Resolution and has supported other bills to arm Ukraine, said he hopes the Obama administration will get the message from the House.

“The President doesn’t always, and in fact usually doesn’t, pay attention to what Congress wants, regrettably,” Rogers said on Tuesday. “We can’t make the president do anything.”

On Monday the House passed the resolution with an overwhelming majority of 348-48 votes.

The text of the Resolution “strongly urges” the US President to fully and immediately exercise the authorities given by the Congress to provide lethal defensive weapons to enhance Ukraine’s security.

Obama was given the authority to provide the government of Kiev with $375 million in lethal military aid through an act of the Congress signed into law in December 2014.