U.S. debates giving arms to Ukraine

Diplomates to meet this week to discuss issues

WASHINGTON — Seeking leverage with Russia, the Trump administration has reopened consideration of long-rejected plans to give Ukraine lethal weapons, even if that would plunge the United States deeper into the former Soviet republic’s conflict.

The proposal, endorsed by the Pentagon and the State Department, reflects the administration’s growing frustration with Russian intransigence on Ukraine and a broader deterioration in U.S.-Russian ties.

Awaiting Trump and his closest advisers is an authorization to provide Ukraine with anti-tank and potentially anti-aircraft capabilities. Such a scenario could theoretically put the nucleararmed nations closer to direct conflict.

While there is no deadline for a decision and one is not expected imminently, the debate is going on as U.S. and Russian diplomats prepare to meet as early as this week to explore ways to pacify eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have fought the central government for three years.

“The Russians have indicated some willingness to begin to talk with us about a way forward on Ukraine,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said.

Tillerson noted his recent appointment of a special representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volker. Volker has proposed a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Putin ally Vladislav Surkov, before the end of the month. Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO, supports arming Ukraine. Such action, he says, would boost the U.S. negotiating position in the east and offer Kiev the means to defend itself against any future aggression.