Donald Trump 'actively reviewing' whether to arm Ukraine
The US reasserts its support for Kiev ahead of huge Russian military exercises

The US is considering sending arms to Ukraine after it was revealed at least 3,000 Russian troops are now stationed in the east of the country. Such a move would seriously increase the tension between Washington and Moscow.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, US Defence Secretary James Mattis said President Donald Trump was "actively reviewing" whether to send lethal weapons and reiterated that the US would stand by Ukraine.
Stopping short of a concrete promise to supply military hardware, Mattis said the US would continue to put pressure on Moscow over "aggressive behaviour" and its failure to abide by the Minsk ceasefire agreement, which was intended to end separatist violence.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Despite Russia's denials, we know they are seeking to redraw international borders by force, undermining the sovereign and free nations of Europe," Mattis told reporters.
The US has supported Ukraine since a pro-Western government took power after massive street protests in 2014. The resulting conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed militias led to the formal annexation of Crimea by Russia and the deaths of more than 10,000 people.
Despite repeated requests, the Obama administration shied away from sending weapons to the country, and during the US election campaign last year, Trump "stoked fears in Kiev he might mend ties with Moscow at Ukraine's expense", suggesting Crimea is a legitimate part of Russia, says the Daily Express.
These fears were "heightened following the release of a report which claimed North Korea's recent successful missile tests were only possible with the black market purchase of powerful rocket engines from a Ukrainian factory", the paper adds.
However, if Trump had hoped to mend ties with Russia, "his first few months in office have not seen a rapprochement", says Newsweek.
The latest snub to Russian President Vladimir Putin comes as Russia prepares to mount what could be one of its biggest military exercises since the cold war.
Western officials and analysts estimate that up to 100,000 military personnel could take part in the Zapad (West) 17 exercise, which will take place next month in Belarus, Kaliningrad and Russia. It will be "a display of power that will be watched warily by Nato against a backdrop of east-west tensions", says The Guardian.
Earlier this year, The Independent reported scores of tanks and other US fighting vehicles landed in Germany on their way to take part in Operation Atlantic Resolve, "which foresees the continuous presence of an American armoured brigade combat team in Europe on a nine-month rotational basis".
The mission represents the biggest transfer of American armour to the region since the fall of the Soviet Union, it says, and "was meant to help allay concerns held by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other Nato allies about Russia".
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Art review: Diane Arbus: Constellation
Feature Park Avenue Armory, New York City, through Aug. 17
-
July fiction: Summers to remember
Feature Featuring the latest summer-themed novels from Darrow Farr, Lucas Schaefer, and more
-
Why are flash floods in Texas so deadly?
Today's Big Question Over 100 people, including 27 girls at a summer camp, died in recent flooding
-
Trump U-turns on weapons to Ukraine
Speed Read Unhappy with Putin, Trump decides the US will go back to arming Ukraine against Russia's attacks
-
Ukraine scrambles as Trump cuts weapons deliveries
Speed Read The halting of weapons shipments was driven by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, a Ukraine funding skeptic
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump gives himself 2 weeks for Iran decision
Speed Read Trump said he believes negotiations will occur in the near future
-
What would a US strike on Iran mean for the Middle East?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION A precise attack could break Iran's nuclear programme – or pull the US and its allies into a drawn-out war even more damaging than Iraq or Afghanistan
-
US says Trump vetoed Israeli strike on Khamenei
Speed Read This comes as Israel and Iran pushed their conflict into its fourth day