“Ultimately, it is the view of the United States that this situation will be resolved diplomatically, the idea that somehow the United States can offer enough assistance to Ukrainians to put their military on par with large Russian military is unrealistic,” Earnest said.
Earnest pointed out to the fact that the United States has already provided $118 million in military assistance to Ukraine, which includes body armor, helmets, vehicles, night and thermal vision devices, advanced radios, demining equipment, patrol boats and other items.
The United States also provides economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of loan guarantees, “but if there is more that we can do, we will consider doing that,” Earnest said.
Earlier this week US media reported, citing US officials, that the US government is considering providing Kiev with Javelin anti-tank missiles and arms to support its fight against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine.
During his September 2014 visit to the United States, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko requested lethal military assistance from Congress, but Washington has not granted his request.
The military confrontation between Kiev forces and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine began in April 2014 and recently intensified, despite a ceasefire agreement reached in September.
