U.S. sends 200 Humvees, drones, to aid Ukraine government

There may be a ceasefire in Ukraine, but that doesn't mean there will be peace in eastern Europe as Ukraine and Russian-backed rebels prepare for new fighting.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The United States has revealed that it will be increasing military aid to the beleaguered Ukrainian government with a new shipment of equipment including Humvees and a type of small surveillance drone which can not carry weaponry.

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This aid is a marked step up from previous shipments of food, uniforms and basic body armor, but still well short of weaponry, ammunition and advisers which Ukraine has been begging for.

Earlier this year, Great Britain decided that they would be sending advisers to Ukraine, mostly in support and technical roles, though a few combat advisers will also be present.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden informed Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko of the decision on March 11. The Ukraine military will receive 30 armored Humvees, 200 standard Humvees, radios and Raven surveillance drones, as well as communications equipment and radar that can detect incoming mortar fire.

This deal comes to about $75 million in "non-lethal defensive security assistance," said one senior Obama administration official.

"This new assistance is part of our ongoing efforts to help sustain Ukraine's defense and internal security operations and resist further aggression," the official continued.

A statement from the White House reported that Biden did communicate with Poroshenko about "the situation in the east, additional non-lethal U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, and new sanctions on Russian-backed separatists and their supporters."

Biden also revealed that he saw the constant violations of the ceasefire by the Russian-backed rebels as extremely concerning.

While President Obama has been blunt that he does not want to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, many voices in Congress, Republican and Democrat disagree, and even some senior staff members are suggesting that is is only a matter of time before ammunition and weapon systems are sent to the Ukraine.

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