Amid a fast-moving flurry of international diplomacy, Kerry arrived in Kiev today bringing with him a modest amount of USD 16.4 million in new US humanitarian aid, but also the potential for lethal weaponry that the country's leaders say they desperately need to defend themselves and turn back renewed rebel pushes in the east.
Officials with Kerry said he would discuss those needs with Ukrainian officials as well as new initiatives to resurrect a moribund ceasefire and resume a political dialogue to end the conflict.
Yesterday, President Barack Obama's pick to run the Pentagon told Congress he is very inclined to support lethal weapons transfers to Ukraine.
The comments were the latest signal the White House may reverse its opposition to arming Ukraine to help its struggling military repel Moscow-backed insurgents despite concerns that might escalate the conflict, turn it into an overt proxy war with Russia and set Washington at odds with its European partners.
In Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko said his government badly needs lethal aid to help repel the separatist attacks in the conflict that that has left 5,300 people dead. And, he said he was convinced it would be coming.