The Obama administration has just announced $75 million in new nonlethal military assistance to Ukraine. But President Obama continues to resist calls from both parties and from within his own Cabinet to arm the Ukrainian government. According to The New York Times, Obama has told aides he does not want to encourage Ukraine to fight a war it cannot win and also hopes to give the ceasefire a chance. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest renewed Obama’s rejection of arming Ukraine.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest: “There are a couple of consequences that we have talked about of providing additional lethal military assistance to the Ukrainian military. The first is that it’s likely, I think almost by definition, to lead to greater bloodshed. And the fact is, our engagement here and our support for these ongoing diplomatic negotiations is that we’re trying to avoid greater bloodshed. So that is one thing that the president is mindful of. The second is that the president is mindful of the fact that there is not a military solution to this problem.”