<p>On Friday, the State Department announced its approval of a shipment of weapons to Ukraine. President Trump had been considering the move for some time after the Pentagon and State Department signaled their approval earlier this year. ;</p>
<p>The weapons are meant to help the Ukrainian government in its fight against Russian-backed separatists, and Washington&rsquo;s willingness to help Kiev could inhibit efforts to work with Russia on North Korea and Afghanistan. ;</p>
<p>The $47 million shipment is rumored to include ;anti-tank missiles, which are viewed as critical in defending against the separatists&rsquo; armored vehicles; US officials insist vehicles are supplied by Russia. ;</p>
<p>Assistance to Ukraine is &ldquo;entirely defensive in nature,&rdquo; said the State Department &ldquo;and as we have always said, Ukraine is a sovereign country and has a right to defend itself.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Previous assistance from the US has included training and support equipment, but nothing approaching the level of the weapons recently approved by the Trump Administration. ;</p>
<p>Kiev responded to the announcement with gratitude. &ldquo;American weapons in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers are not for offensive [purposes], but for stronger rebuff of the aggressor, protection of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, as well as for effective self-defense,&rdquo; said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. ;</p>
<p>Kiev has been fighting the separatists since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea &#8211; a move condemned by many countries as a violation of international law. ;The move earned sanctions from the United States, ;and President Trump has insisted these sanctions will remain in place until Moscow abandons Crimea. ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;President Trump&rsquo;s reported decision to provide Javelin anti-tank munitions to Ukraine marks another significant step in the right direction and sends a strong signal that the United States will stand by its allies and partners as they fight to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity,&rdquo; said Senator John McCain (R-AZ). &ldquo;As I have long argued, providing defensive lethal assistance to Ukraine is not opposed to peace in Ukraine &ndash; it is essential to achieving it.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>Russian authorities condemned the weapons shipment, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov going so far as to say the US is &ldquo;an accomplice in fueling a war.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;American weapons can lead to new victims in our neighboring country, to which we cannot remain indifferent,&rdquo; said Ryabkov. &#8220;The United States in a certain sense had crossed the line.&rdquo; ;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the fighting in Ukraine is up about 60% compared to last year. &ldquo;It stands as the single most difficult obstacle to us renormalizing the relationship with Russia, which we badly would like to do,&rdquo; laments Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. ;</p>
<p>On Wednesday, the Trump Administration announced it would permit sales of small arms to Ukraine from US manufacturers. ;</p>