Washington – BBC News – Feb 10, 2015 – US President Barack Obama has said that the United States is considering supplying weapons to the Ukrainian government to help it defend itself against the Russian backed separatists in the east of the country. Mr. Obama was speaking after talks at the white House with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He said the US could not stand by to see the boarders of Europe being redrawn at the barrel of a gun.

 “It is true that if in fact diplomacy fails, what I have asked my team to do is to look at all options, what other means can we put in place to change Mr. Putin’s calculus. And the possibility of lethal defensive weapons is one of those options being examined. But I have not made a decision about that yet. I have consulted with, not just Angela, but will be consulting with other allies about this issue. It is not based on the idea that Ukraine could defeat a Russian Army that was determined; it is rather to see whether or not the additional things we can do to help Ukraine bolster its defenses in the face of separatist aggression,” Mr. Obama said during a joint press conference.
Mrs. Merkel has lead European efforts to restart the stalled Minsk peace process.

“We continue to pursue a diplomatic solution, although we have suffered setbacks. These days we will see whether all side ready and willing to come to a negotiated settlement,” Mrs. Merkel told reporters.
Meanwhile on the ground in eastern Ukraine fighting continues between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government forces.