Rep. Engel confirms the request for weapons by a representative of the government of Ukraine in a speech before the US House of Representatives on February 10, 2015.
On February 10, 2015 Rep. Elliot Engel asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for one minute to advocate for the sending of weapons and arms to Ukraine:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the President to send defensive weapons to the beleaguered people of Ukraine. I just came back from a meeting in Europe with the President of Ukraine, Mr. Poroshenko, who pleaded with us that he needs help. The world cannot stand idly by and allow Putin Russian aggression to continue without giving the Ukrainians a chance to defend themselves.
I know that there are meetings and negotiations going on this week in Minsk, and I know that the leaders of France and Germany want to see if they can again put together some kind of an agreement before any weapons are given, but there was a Minsk agreement several months ago only to be broken by Mr. Putin, and the Ukrainians need help now.
As Mr. Poroshenko said when he addressed the joint session of Congress:
Thank you for the blankets, but blankets don’t allow us to defend ourselves.
The Ukrainians are asking for antitank weapons, armored Humvees, longer-range counterartillery radars, drones, and additional advanced radios. We just would give them the ability to defend themselves.
Mr. Speaker, it doesn’t involve U.S. military. It doesn’t involve U.S. troops. How much longer can we watch the beleaguered people of Ukraine in siege? The United States should take moves and should take moves now. Send Ukraine these defensive weapons.”
Source: Congressional Record
See video: Кожен з нас. Збройні Сили України https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYX7KVEtfLo
See video: “I serve Ukraine!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AysfmBM6-1s