Over the past few weeks, fighting has intensified in Ukraine between Pro-Nationalist and Russian paramilitary forces. Strong sentiments have incited riots, and insurgency has spread throughout the countryside. As a result, the Russian military has reportedly crossed the border into Ukraine without permission. Previously, a stalemate existed between Russia and the Ukraine over control of their country. This has changed now that Vladimir Putin believes that the country is on the brink of a civil war, justifying militaristic action in the region. Eerily similar to the times of the Brezhnev Doctrine, Putin is claiming necessity for swift Russian intervention in his neighboring countries affairs. The tension surrounding both the fighting and the unwarranted Russian action has pushed Barack Obama and the United States closer to a dreaded proxy war with Russia over the region.

In the wake of these events, the question has been raised concerning the United States’ involvement in conflict by arming the Ukrainian army and insurgents fighting against the Russians. The Ukrainians are simply outgunned against the superior Russian forces. At the time of this writing, the US Government has already sent military advisors to aide the Ukrainians, and last April the US Defense department sent a non-lethal military shipment, and they have already proposed a 19 million dollar aid program, dependant on congressional approval. It is reasonable to assume this aid will include weaponry, but this information has not yet been released to the public.

This prospect is controversial for several reasons. President Obama is now in a tight position, because American doctrine stipulates that he cannot stand by and let Putin trample Ukraine, at the same time he cannot risk an escalated conflict. Critics believe that the proposed US arming of Ukrainian troops could turn into another Cold War, a Russia-US showdown reminiscent of the Cuban Missile Crisis or the Berlin Crisis of 1961. Washington would be sending weapons to be used against Russian troops, a dangerous move to make in a time when Russian hostility toward the US is becoming apparent.

A former intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia, Eugene Rumer, believes that the proposal would be ineffective. It would merely anger Putin, not contain his forces. No one knows how Putin would react to American weapons being used against his army. Quite recently, Russian officials warned the “West” that arming the Ukraine would be considered an act of war. While it is impossible to tell quite what that remark denotes, it is apparent that the Russians will not take kindly to US intervention and conflict will surely follow any actions to supply American armaments.