During his recent visit to Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the Pentagon is thinking about giving the country's government lethal weapons.
Mattis said in a press conference: "We are in this and very, very much in support of you. I would also point out that on the defensive lethal weapons, we are actively reviewing it."
Ukraine's government is still waging war against pro-Russian separatists in the eastern part of the country. It's accused Russia of fueling the conflict; Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
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The U.S. has already supplied about $750 million worth of nonlethal equipment to Ukraine — stuff like body armor, radios and Humvees. Now, it's pondering giving Ukraine U.S. anti-tank missiles to help deter Russian aggression.
Mattis also urged Russia to abide by the terms of a major 2015 cease-fire agreement in the region. A fresh cease-fire in the conflict is supposed to go into effect this week.
