Samantha Power explains why the US does not supply Ukraine with weapons
US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power stated on Sunday, April 17th during an interview for Voice of America that the US does not provide Ukraine with weaponry because it wishes to prevent an escalation of the conflict in Donbas. Washington considers Ukrainian reforms and sanctions against Russia to be more effective counters against the Kremlin’s aggression.
"The White House considers that a military solution to the conflict would be a tragedy for everyone… If we provide Ukraine with more weapons, it would be worse for Ukrainians. It would put more people in danger,” Power emphasized.
Washington has considered economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin in combination with successful reforms in Ukraine to be more effective than intensification of the fighting in Donbas. "We provided many “illegal” weapons. About three billion dollars were in the form of loans and other forms of financial assistance. We invest in justice and anti-corruption programs. Time will show that such policy and isolation of Russia will deliver expected outcomes,” Power said.
Earlier, the former US adviser to the Minister of Defense for Ukrainian, Russian and Eurasian issues, Evelyn Farkas, advised providing Ukraine with weapons before Russia attacked.
According to Farkas, it would balance a force in the conflict and send a clear signal to Moscow that further escalation of violence would be costly. US Congressman from Pennsylvania Joe Pitts also explained why US President Barack Obama does not provide weapons. According to him, the American President and Nobel Peace prize laureate is concerned about his "political heritage.” He does not wish to be remembered as the President that launched yet another war. In April, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama confirmed the readiness to provide Ukraine with the third tranche of aid amounting to 1 billion dollars. Moreover, Washington announced allocation of 335 million dollars to reform the security sector in Ukraine.
Since 2014, the US has already provided 260 million dollars in military assistance for Ukraine including tents, bulletproof vests, thermal cameras, means of transportation, medical and engineer equipment, portable radios, counter-mortar radars and patrol boats.