White House ‘continually assessing’ Ukraine plan

The White House said Monday it was “continually assessing” options for countering Russia’s incursion into Ukraine amid reports the administration is reconsidering whether to provide Kiev with weapons.

“The president’s view continues to be that this administration needs to be continually assessing what our strategy should be,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

The New York Times reported that NATO’s military commander, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, and departing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel both supported providing weapons to the Ukrainian military after pro-Russian separatists made gains in recent weeks. The White House has thus far limited aid to non-lethal items like body armor, rations, blankets and medical kits.

Pressure to provide more support to Kiev has intensified after peace talks collapsed over the weekend in Minsk. Those talks followed some of the deadliest fighting since a ceasefire agreement was signed last September.

Earnest acknowledged “a wide variety of opinions about this” and said the administration is evaluating all options because the current sanctions regime has not appeared to stop Russian provocations.

Earnest said, however, that the current strategy has succeeded in both “uniting the international community” and punishing the Russian economy. He noted the devaluation of the ruble and downgrading of Russia’s credit rating.

“By just about any measure you consider, the Russian economy has taken a big hit,” Earnest said.

President Obama will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel next Monday at the White House, where the leaders are expected to discuss next steps in Ukraine. European leaders are expected to extend and expand sanctions against Moscow later this month.