"Today, it would seem, Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a contest of who can 'out-hawk' the other on Russia," said the weekly American journal.
In late April, the majority of members of the US Senate Armed Services Committee urged Barack Obama to send lethal aid to Ukraine. Only two senators were not convinced this is a necessary step.
According to the Nation, it is in fact Kiev that does not want to listen to Western European leaders urging the post-Maidan authorities to adhere to the agreements and solve the crisis peacefully. Much to Europe's frustration, Kiev does not seem to be in any hurry to implement the deal.
The hawks in the Senate Armed Services Committee also found a powerful ally in NATO's top commander Gen. Philip Breedlove. Last week, he told the committee he supports the consideration of providing offensive weapons to Ukraine as a tool to tackle what he branded "Russian aggression."
It has been a longstanding position of Russia and Europe that providing lethal aid to Ukraine would only make things worse in the region. As recently as last week, three European foreign ministers, including Germany's top diplomat Frank-Walter Steinmeier, once again underlined that the political solution of the Ukrainian crisis is the only option.
"Breedlove's testimony also inadvertently helped confirm the basis of one of Russia's principal objections to American policy: that it is being hedged in on all sides by the American military," the Nation pointed out.
