Kyiv's Reception and Moscow's Anger at the U.S. Decision to Enhance Ukraine's Defense Capabilities

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko thanked the United States for its decision to enhance his country's defense capabilities, while Russia expressed dissatisfaction with this decision, warning that the U.S. action would intensify the war in eastern Ukraine. According to the Associated Press, Poroshenko wrote on Facebook on Saturday, December 23, that he was grateful for the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, the clear stance of all our American friends, and the strong support from both parties in the U.S. for Ukraine. He continued, 'Ukrainian soldiers do not use American weapons offensively; rather, these weapons are tools for more powerful defense against the aggression towards our country and a means to protect Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, and overall to secure both sides of the Atlantic against the aggressive virus of Russia.' The Trump administration authorized the delivery of weapons to Ukraine on Friday, a move that had been on hold for a long time. In this regard, Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, emphasized that this cooperation is aimed at helping Ukraine 'defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and prevent further aggression.' Nauert did not specify the type of weapons, but the Associated Press reported, citing some U.S. officials without naming them, that these weapons are American-made Javelin anti-tank missiles. The Ukrainian government is engaged in a war with Moscow-backed separatists in the east of the country, which has resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 people since 2014. The report states that the U.S. has previously provided some military weapons to Ukraine while training Ukrainian soldiers and allowed American companies to sell light weapons to Ukraine. However, Washington's recent action to deliver heavier weapons to Ukraine indicates America's determination to intervene in the Ukrainian civil war. This has prompted a reaction from Moscow, which has threatened retaliation. Sergey Ryabkov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that the U.S. decision would only make the war in Ukraine deadlier and that Russia would inevitably have to respond. According to him, the U.S. has crossed a red line and can no longer present itself as a peace mediator in Ukraine. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement, without mentioning the U.S. decision, urging the parties involved in Ukraine to fully implement the provisions of the ceasefire agreement signed in 2015 with the mediation of Berlin and Paris. This agreement emphasizes the need to withdraw heavy weapons such as mortars and tanks from conflict areas and mandates the exchange of prisoners. The leaders of Germany and Russia stated in their statement that there is no alternative to a peaceful solution for the region. The U.S. and its allies accuse Russia of sending weapons and troops to eastern Ukraine to strengthen the positions of the rebels. Moscow has denied these accusations but has acknowledged that Russian citizens have voluntarily joined the separatists in eastern Ukraine.