US Reportedly Considering Supplies of Javelin Antitank Missiles to Ukraine

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The US government is considering providing Kiev with Javelin anti-tank missiles, ammunition and small arms to support its fight against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing US officials.

FGM-148 Javelins are man-portable anti-tank missiles that have an effective firing range of 75 to 2,500 meters (up to 8,200 feet).

Previously, the United States repeatedly said that its military aid to Ukraine would be non-lethal only.

However, The New York Times, citing anonymous sources in the US government, reported Monday that Washington was considering supplying arms and equipment to the Ukrainian Army in the wake of an intensifying conflict in Ukraine’s southeast. The newspaper said US national security adviser Susan Rice and top NATO military commander Gen. Philip Breedlove were among those who strongly support the move.

During his September 2014 visit to the United States, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko requested lethal military assistance from Congress, but Washington has not granted his request.

The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized the United States would breach agreements on the Ukrainian settlement reached in Geneva on April 17, 2014 by Russia, the EU, the US and Ukraine, if it supplied lethal weapons to Kiev.

The military confrontation between Kiev forces and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine began in April 2014 and recently intensified despite a ceasefire agreement reached in September.