(CNN)Would sending weapons to Ukraine block Russia from grabbing territory and stem violence in the volatile region? Or would it fuel further conflict and destabilize Europe? That's a key issue Western leaders are weighing. And even as they tried to present a unified front at a press briefing Monday, it was clear that it's an area where U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel don't quite see eye to eye. Obama said he hasn't decided yet whether to send arms to Ukrainian forces defending their country against Russian-backed separatists, and he hasn't set a deadline for when he will. But he insists it's an option that should be considered if diplomacy fails.
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U.S. President Barack Obama says he hasn't decided yet whether to send weapons to Ukraine
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Germany's Angela Merkel: "I've always said I don't see a military solution to this conflict"
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Leaders are planning possible talks in Belarus Wednesday
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Any weapons the @placeholder sends would not be meant to help Ukraine defeat the Russian army in an all-out battle, Obama said.
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"Our goal has not been for @placeholder to be equipped to carry out offensive operations," he said, "but to simply defend itself."
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@placeholder leaders cannot stand idly by "and simply allow the borders of Europe to be redrawn at the barrel of a gun," Obama said.
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But top Western and @placeholder leaders have said there isn't any doubt that Russia is behind surging violence and separatists' efforts to take over territory in eastern Ukraine.