Ukrainian leader meets with Obama at White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine’s president has arrived at the White House for talks with President Barack Obama, but it’s already clear that the Ukrainian leader won’t be getting all of the help he’s seeking.

Speaking earlier today to a joint meeting of Congress, Petro Poroshenko thanked the United States for the non-lethal equipment it is providing to his country’s military. But he made an urgent request for lethal aid, saying, “One cannot win a war with a blanket.”

Officials say the United States will provide $46 million in new security help — but still no lethal assistance.

Today’s meeting is meant to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the West’s support for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government has been locked in a fight for control of eastern Ukrainian cities with Russian-backed separatists for months. The aggression followed Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Ahead of today’s meeting officials said Obama would announce a security assistance package that would provide Ukrainian forces with countermortar radar to help detect incoming artillery fire. The U.S. will also provide vehicles, patrol boats, body armor and heavy engineering equipment.

%@AP Links

168-a-13-(Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, in speech to joint meeting of Congress)-“of the times”-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says Ukraine needs help from the U.S. (18 Sep 2014)

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166-a-19-(Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, in speech to joint meeting of Congress)-“new cold war”-Ukrainain President Petro Poroshenko says Ukrainian troops need help. (18 Sep 2014)

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APPHOTO DCSA111: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, joined by Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, right, and Vice President Joe Biden, left, acknowledges lawmakers’ applause after addressing a joint meeting of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. Poroshenko is seeking more robust U.S military assistance to help his country in its fight against Russian-backed rebels and will also be meeting with President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (18 Sep 2014)

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