RUSSIA RETURNS TO FIGHT BACK AND OBAMA TALKS WITH MERKEL

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THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SAID YESTERDAY: It is true that if, in fact, diplomacy fails, what I`ve asked my team to do is to look at all

options.

What other means can we put in place to change Mr. Putin`s calculus and the possibility of light defensive weapons is one of those options

that`s being examined. But I have not made a decision about that yet. I have consulted with not just Angela, but will be consulting with other

allies about this issue.

It`s not based on the idea that Ukraine could defeat a Russian Army that was determined. It is rather to -- to see whether or not there are

additional things we can do to help Ukraine bolster its defenses in the face of separatist aggression.

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The U.S. and most often Europe support the government of Ukraine. For almost a year now, it`s been battling separatist rebels who want closer

ties with Russia. And Russia has been accused of supporting those rebels.

President Obama is considering giving Ukraine`s government additional weapons to fight the separatists. He`s been discussing this with German

chancellor, Angela Merkel, who said last week she doesn`t like that idea.

President Obama said Western leaders can`t allow Europe`s borders to be redrawn at the barrel of a gun.

But they were redrawn last year, when Russia annexed a region of Ukraine named Crimea. That`s part of the reason why Russian President

Vladimir Putin remains so popular in his country, despite the struggles it`s facing.