US says it will continue to provide security assistance to Ukraine

The US said Sunday it would continue to arm Ukraine but declined to comment directly on the explosion that damaged a road and railroad bridge leading to Russia's Crimea.

"We have nothing more to add to the news about the explosion on the bridge," White House national security spokesman John Kirby (NYSE:KEX) told ABC's "This Week." "The only thing I can tell you is that Mr. Putin started this war and Mr. Putin can end this war today by simply getting his troops out of the country." Kirby said both sides should find a way to negotiate to end the war, but Putin has shown no interest in doing so. "On the contrary," he added. "He has shown every indication of doubling down by calling up hundreds of thousands of reservists, by politically annexing, or at least trying to annex, four regions of Ukraine," Kirby added. "That's why, frankly, we're in almost daily contact with the Ukrainians and will continue to provide them with security assistance," Kirby said. Largely echoing statements made by the White House after US President Joe Biden last week spoke of the possibility of nuclear "Armageddon," Kirby said the US has no indication that Putin has decided to use nuclear weapons and there is no reason to change the US strategic posture. "The president was reflecting the very high stakes that are in play right now when you have a modern nuclear power and the leader of that modern nuclear power willing to use irresponsible rhetoric like Mr. Putin did...," Kirby said. Follow Global Economic Developments on Social Media! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Facebook account! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Instagram account! Click here to follow Ieconomy official Twitter account!