U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is preparing to unveil new plans that will increase the government's non-lethal support to Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The relief operation is meant to aid Ukraine's efforts to drive back Russian separatists groups in the country.
Biden's non-lethal support package features military equipment issued by the Pentagon. This includes radar systems designed to spot incoming mortars and armored vehicles.
Although the package will help the country's military operations against the separatist organizations, it does not meet the requests made by President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine.
In September of this year, Poroshenko met with government officials in Washington and asked the U.S. to supply Ukraine with weapons as part of a lethal aid package.
According to the president, this is what the country needs right now since the number of soldiers and tanks deployed by enemy forces in Ukraine has increased.
President Barrack Obama denied Poroshenko's request and reiterated that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine must be settled through diplomatic means.
Some U.S. officials questioned the Obama administration and its decision to supply non-lethal aid.
Senator John McCain criticized Biden's plan and reiterated that the Ukraine government needs lethal weapons and equipment in order to successfully drive away Russian separatist forces from its country.
"They are fighting against people with lethal weapons," the senator said. "They need lethal weapons to fight back. It is disgraceful and shameful that we won't give them lethal weapons."
Despite sending non-lethal support, Tony Blinken, the president's deputy national adviser, mentioned that the Obama administration is still open to the idea of providing weapons and lethal aid to Ukraine depending on its assessment of the ongoing conflict, European news site RFERL reported.
Following Blinken's statement, Russia issued a response through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aleksandr Lukashevich and warned that sending lethal support goes against the U.S. government's policy regarding its participation in the conflict in Ukraine.
