Valeriy Chaly: Ukraine may receive lethal weapons from Trump administration
The position of U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, which has not allowed the delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine until now, may be revised by Donald Trump’s team, as was stated by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Valeriy Chaly, in an interview with Ukrinform.
"Defence equipment is now being supplied to Ukraine making it possible to save the lives of our soldiers, as well as to register the violations of the ceasefire. Such as the counterbattery radars," the diplomat said. He also noted that the main obstacle to obtaining the lethal weapons by Ukraine is the U.S. President's position.
"Therefore, accordingly, changes in the White House provide an opportunity to take a fresh look at this issue," Chaly said.
He also reminded that military aid to Ukraine in the U.S. defense budget for the 2017 fiscal year was increased and "includes the possibility of supplying lethal defensive weapons" at a legislative level.
In 2014 the United States decided not to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, as the White House thought it could "spur" Russia to escalate the conflict. In the summer of 2016, Valeriy Chaly assumed that this issue might be reconsidered after the U.S. presidential elections.