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US arming Ukraine will end in ‘civil war’: Investigative journalist

Lindorff said the Obama administration’s officials are “split” about arming the Ukrainian forces.

US investigative journalist David Lindorff says Washington’s plan to arm Ukraine will result to Moscow’s direct aid to pro-Russian forces and that will end in civil war in the country.

“It is certainly correct that Russia will respond by giving even more direct aid to the separatists in the east, which will mean that the situation will deteriorate further into chaos and civil war,” Lindorff told Press TV on Sunday.

He made the comments after a top US diplomat announced that the Pentagon will supply lethal arms to Ukraine if “aggression” from the pro-Russian forces persists, but warned that Moscow would easily match the effort by sending more weapons into the country.

Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that the US was already moving to provide the Ukrainian military with non-lethal military assistance.

"But if the aggression continues, I think there will be more and more pressure to give them other means to protect themselves," Blinken said.

Lindorff also said the Obama administration’s officials are “split” about arming the Ukrainian forces.

Some US and European officials are worried that providing lethal weapons to Ukraine would escalate a conflict that has killed about 6,000 people since last April, and drag them into a proxy war with Russia.

However, some members of Congress have stepped up pressure on the White House to counter what they see as increased aggression by Moscow.

“We urge you to quickly approve additional efforts to support Ukraine's efforts to defend its sovereign territory, including through the transfer of lethal, defensive weapons systems to the Ukrainian military," read a letter Thursday to President Barack Obama by 11 lawmakers.

House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and top Republicans and Democrats on various House committees signed the letter.

Obama’s lack of “overall strategy thus far has done little to reassure our friends and allies in the region," they wrote in the letter.

Last month, Obama said his administration was still considering sending lethal aid to Ukraine, saying, "If, in fact, diplomacy fails, what I've asked my team to do is to look at all options."

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