US Authorizes Non-Lethal Aid for Ukraine

The United States will send additional non-lethal military support to Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Thursday, in the latest U.S. move to reassure allies following Russia's annexation of Crimea and a buildup of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border.

"Earlier this morning I called Ukraine's acting defense minister to tell him that President Obama has approved additional non-lethal military assistance for health and welfare items and other supplies,'' Hagel said, speaking at a Pentagon news conference after talks with Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak.

The new support follows NATO's announcement that it would send more ships, planes and troops to eastern Europe "within days'', but making clear it would not intervene militarily in Ukraine, which is not a NATO member.

NATO's Maritime Command said Thursday it is sending four minesweepers and a support vessel to the Baltic Sea. The ships are from Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Estonia.

The alliance said it does not intend to escalate the situation in Ukraine, but rather to "demonstrate solidarity" and ramp up NATO's readiness.