Obama yet to sign Ukraine Freedom Support Act

U.S President Barack Obama signed on Dec. 16 the 2015 budget law passed by Congress, which includes giving the Ukrainian government loan guarantees, forbidding U.S. aid to those who recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea and a ban on contracts with Rosoboroneksport, which is Russia’s monopoly arms exporter, reported on Dec. 18 the Ukrayinska Pravda news site.

At the same time, President Obama has yet to sign the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014, the news site reported. That’s despite White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest stating on Dec. 16 that he would do so, as reported by the Associated Press news agency. Approved by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 11, the legislation would authorize Obama to give Ukraine lethal and non-lethal military aid, military training and non-military aid.

The Polish government is ready to sell Ukraine arms and military hardware, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said on Dec. 17, the Ukrayinska Pravda news site reported. He said he’s not aware of any embargo on selling arms to Ukraine.

Zenon Zawada: There is a rift in the U.S. on whether to take the lead ahead of Europe in backing Ukraine against Russia. The Republican Party supports taking such initiative, while the President Obama is against. This rift also reflects a debate in Europe on whether an aggressive approach of providing Ukraine with enhanced military aid – particularly lethal weapons – is appropriate or will only exacerbate the conflict.

President Obama made clear he wants Europe to be in the lead in making such critical decisions on Ukraine. Even if he signs the Freedom Support Act (we believe he will hold off), we expect Obama will refrain from applying its more aggressive authority until the Europeans are ready, which won’t be soon.

It’s noteworthy that the Poles are openly stating their willingness to sell arms to Ukraine, when just weeks earlier they were reluctant to make such statements. We believe they were able to overcome their shyness after the both the U.S. and British governments sold military hardware to Ukraine in recent weeks.