American leaders offered Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko a high-profile platform Thursday to advocate for greater support to his besieged military, though the levels of assistance ultimately offered by the United States fell short of his requests, reports GHN based on CNN.
After an address to a joint session of Congress, Poroshenko met with Secretary of State John Kerry and later with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, where he requested help arming his troops to battle Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine -- a request that once again was rebuffed.
"They need more military equipment, both lethal and nonlethal," Poroshenko said of his military during his morning speech to U.S. lawmakers, saying Ukraine deserved special ally status that qualifies it for elevated levels of assistance.
Speaking in accented English, Poroshenko said during his emotional remarks that "blankets, night vision goggles are also important" in fighting Russian-backed troops but "one cannot win the war with blankets."
As soon as Poroshenko completed his remarks, the White House announced $46 million in security assistance to Ukraine that omitted any lethal aid. The package includes body armor, helmets, vehicles and night vision goggles.
Speaking to CNN's Wolf Blitzer following his meeting with Obama, Poroshenko said he was "fully satisfied" with the package offered from the United States.