article_snippet: Asked during a the White House press briefing to confirm that The US won't send weapons to the former Soviet nation, Press Secretary Josh Earnest said, 'That's not necessarily accurate.' '
article_snippet: I can't,' Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. '
article_snippet: The President, I think, in Press Secretary Josh Earnest own mind, is continuing to evaluate the situation in eastern Ukraine,' Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters, 'and continuing to assess the risk that's associated with providing additional lethal assistance to the Ukrainian military.'
article_snippet: : the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday that the Obama administration hasn't ruled out sending lethal military aid to Ukraine .
article_snippet: Obama is weighing the consequences of putting new lethal weapons in the hands of Ukraine's military, weighing the risks that Obama could further inflame a conflict in which more than 6,000 people have already lost more than 6,000 people lives. '
article_snippet: That bloodshed is something that we're trying to avoid and de-escalate,' Earnest said. '
article_snippet: So Obama is very mindful of the potential risk that's associated with providing additional lethal military assistance to the Ukrainians.'
article_snippet: Obama, seen Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia, is said to be mulling the geopolitical pros and cons of standing up to Putin by sending new defensive weapons to Kiev .
highlights_snippet: Obama spokesman cites 'risk assessment' and says president wants to 'de-escalate' military action, not ramp it up .
  