The Hill - Cruz: US not honoring Ukraine obligation

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By Kyle Balluck

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Sunday called for the U.S. to send weapons to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression, saying that President Obama is not honoring a treaty obligation with the former Soviet republic.

Cruz spoke to ABC's "This Week" from a security conference in Munich.

"You know, I'll tell you, this conference in Munich the last three days has really highlighted the enormous national security threat that are facing America, that are growing and getting worse," he said. "And when it comes to Russia and Ukraine, the path we're on doesn't make any sense. We need to be providing defensive arms to the people of Ukraine. "

Cruz said he was part of a bipartisan congressional delegation who on Saturday met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who "made clear that the Ukrainians are fighting to defend their nation. They want to defend their nation."

"We have a treaty obligation to stand with them," Cruz said. "And right now, unfortunately, the Obama administration is not honoring that obligation."

"We need to come together and provide defensive arms so that they can stand up against this Russian aggression," Cruz added.

Speaking at that same conference, Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday said the U.S. and its European allies are united in a focus on diplomacy to ease tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

"We are united, we are working closely together," Kerry said at a Munich security conference.

"We all agree that this challenge will not end through military force," he added. "We are united in our diplomacy."

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