Obama spokesman cites 'risk assessment ' and says president wants to 'de-escalate ' military action , not ramp it up . The US is sending another $ 75 million in nonlethal aid but wo n't commit to arming Ukrainian troops against Thad Cochran Russia . Group of 13 Republican and Democratic senators want Congress to appropriate money specifically to buy 'defensive weapons ' for Ukraine . Two other senators , one from each party , say the US should be 'equipping Ukraine with the means to impose a greater military cost on Russia '
Obama spokesman cites 'risk assessment ' and says president wants to 'de-escalate ' military action , not ramp it up . The US is sending another $ 75 million in nonlethal aid but wo n't commit to arming Ukrainian troops against Vladimir Putin 's Russia . Group of 13 Republican and Democratic senators want Congress to appropriate money specifically to buy 'defensive weapons ' for Ukraine . Two other senators , one from each party , say the US should be 'equipping Ukraine with the means to impose a greater military cost on Russia '