25.08.2017, Ukraine.
On August 24, US Senator John McCain called on President Trump to take make use of the US Defense Secretary’s visit to Kiev in order to correct US policy towards Ukraine, RIA Novosti News Agency reported.
US Defense Secretary James Mattis arrived in Kiev on August 23. On August 24, Mattis met with President Pyotr Poroshenko and Stepan Poltorak, the Ukrainian Defense Minister. Mattis took part in the Ukrainian Independence Day parade.
According to Senator McCain, the US Defense Secretary’s visit to Kiev provides Trump with an opportunity to correct US policy toward Ukraine and to resolve the issue with supplying lethal weapons. The senator also said that the US needs to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine is needed to deter and defend against Russian aggression.
“As long as the status quo remains, Russia has no reason to change its behavior, and we should only expect more violence and more death“, McCain stated.
According to the American senator, arms shipments to Ukraine will facilitate more “stability” and “peace” in the country.
The issue of supplying Ukraine with US lethal weaponry has been discussed since 2014. On August 1st, 2017 The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Department of Defense and the State Department have proposed a plan to provide Kiev with lethal weapons. Senator John McCain, who heads the United States Senate Armed Services Committee, supports the proposal to provide Ukraine with lethal weaponry.
Russia has repeatedly stated that American weapons shipments will only contribute to escalating the conflict between Ukraine and the unrecognized republics.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
