Don’t inflame Russians, May warned

THERESA MAY’S national security adviser has cautioned against escalating the confrontation with Russia in Ukraine, amid reports the Pentagon is preparing to arm Kiev with anti-tank weapons.

American commanders and diplomats are said to be seeking Donald Trump’s approval to supply Ukraine with weapons to deter aggression from Moscow.

James Mattis, the US defence secretary, has endorsed the plan, with commanders arguing the hardware would be a defence against Russian material given to separatists in the Donbass region, The Wall Street Journal reported.

America’s new special envoy to Ukraine last week said defensive weapons would help stop Russia threatening the country.

But Mark Sedwill, national security adviser, said: “It is really important we don’t inflame the situation. There has been quite a lot of agitation from across the border in the east.”

Ukraine has repeatedly called for anti-tank weapons since Russian backed separatists seized parts of Donbass three years ago. Western governments have until now been reluctant to provide weapons, for fear of provoking the Kremlin and escalating fighting that has killed more than 10,000 since 2014.

Aid has largely been limited to training missions and “non-lethal” equipment such as first aid kits, winter clothing, night vision goggles and body armour. But under the American proposal, the US would provide anti-tank weapons such as hand-held Javelin missiles, and possibly anti-aircraft weapons.

Kurt Volker, US special representative to Ukraine, said last week: “Defensive weapons, ones that would allow Ukraine to defend itself, and to take out tanks for example, would actually help stop Russia threatening Ukraine.

“I’m not again predicting where we go on this. That’s a matter for further discussion and decision. But I think that argument that it would be provocative to Russia or emboldening of Ukraine is just getting it backwards.”

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman said the issue was “hypothetical” and declined to comment. He said the Kremlin believed that all countries, “especially those that want to regulate” the conflict, must “refrain from measures that contribute to tension.” Senior officials said any decision by the White House could be months off and Mr Trump has yet to see the proposal.

But any US decision to arm Kiev is likely to put pressure on Britain to follow. Last night a Foreign Office spokesman said its own policy of restricting British aid to non-lethal training and equipment had not changed and that any solution to the three-year-old war had to be political, not military.

Kiev’s forces and Russian-backed separatists continue to clash in eastern Ukraine despite a 2015 ceasefire deal aimed at stopping the fighting.