Ukraine's pleas for lethal aid from US go unmet
By JULIE PACE and DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press
Sep 18, 2014 2:33 PM CDT
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, escorted by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is welcomed by U.S. lawmakers as he arrives to address a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. Poroshenko is seeking more robust U.S military assistance to help...   (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says $46 million in new assistance that the U.S. will provide to Ukraine's military will help the country defend against Russian aggression.

Obama, however, stopped short of meeting an urgent request from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for lethal aid to help his country in its fight against Russian-backed separatists.

Obama met with Poroshenko on Thursday in the Oval Office.

Obama says Poroshenko's leadership has been "absolutely critical" at an important time in his country's history. Poroshenko is a billionaire businessman who Obama says is the right man for the job.

Poroshenko expressed gratitude for the "bipartisan support" he's received.

Obama also commended Poroshenko's work on a cease-fire that was reached earlier this month, and for his commitment to keeping Ukraine intact.

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