Retired Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, noted that supplying Ukraine with offensive weapons could make Russian President Vladimir Putin sit at the negotiation table, reports The Hill.
'I would like to see provisions for the United States to send more Harpoon missiles for strikes on the Black Sea Fleet, more HIMARS, surface-to-surface weapons that can reach deep behind Russian lines, more offensive cyber capabilities, and possibly a few more F-16s, all of which are very capable offensively'
Stavridis believes this could affect the situation. U.S. President Donald Trump also mentioned possible sanctions against Putin if a ceasefire agreement is not reached within 50 days.
'This sanctions bill that Lindsey Graham is pushing will have a deterrent effect on Putin from advancing. This is what we need to see'
The prominent admiral and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO believes that providing Ukraine with offensive weapons could compel the Russian president to negotiate. It was also noted that the U.S. is considering sanctions against Putin if the eastern Ukraine conflict is not resolved within 50 days.