BRUSSELS (AP) – The top NATO commander warned Thursday that any move to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons must take into account any possible angry reaction from Russia.
U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove said that any action the U.S. or other Western nations take “could trigger a more strident reaction from Russia.”
His remarks come amid signals that the U.S. is considering giving Ukraine defensive weapons to help protect forces along the border from escalating assault by Russian-backed separatists. He and other U.S. leaders insist there is no military solution to the conflict, but say that Ukraine has the right to defend itself.
“Everything we do we have to look and evaluate as to will (it) advance the ball toward that political solution that we have to find here,” Breedlove told The Associated Press in an interview here. “So all manner of aid has to be taken in light of what we anticipate would be the Russian reaction.”
Breedlove would not talk about what advice he gave the administration or his NATO leadership, but he said the situation in eastern Ukraine is deteriorating and any action the U.S., takes must help move the conflict toward a political solution.