WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A decision by the United States to provide lethal military assistance to the government of Ukraine would elicit a negative response from Russia, but the intelligence community is not opposed to the action, US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told a Senate hearing on Thursday.
"The intelligence community view is if we provide lethal assistance to Ukraine, that this would evoke a negative reaction from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and the Russians," Clapper said.
He added that despite the anticipated response, it is "not to suggest opposition to provision of lethal aid."