CRI听力:Obama still Weighs Decision on Arming Ukraine

To arm or not to arm.

It is question many in Washington had been asking before U.S. President Barack Obama sat down for talks with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss Ukraine.

"The possibility of lethal defensive weapons is one of those options that has been examined. But I have not made a decision about that yet."

The German government, along with many other countries in Europe, has been wary of any plans by the United States to send offensive weapons to Ukraine.

Angela Merkel says the best approach is through diplomacy.

"We stand for the same principles of the inviolability of territorial integrity. For somebody who comes from Europe, I can only say, if we give up this principle of territorial integrity of countries, then we will not be able to maintain the peaceful order of Europe that we've been able to achieve."

In pressing forward with the diplomatic approach for the time being President Barack Obama says the international community will raise the price for Russia if the upcoming talks fail to make headway.

"We agreed that sanctions on Russia need to remain fully in force until Russia complies. If Russia continues on its current course, Russia's isolation will only worsen, both politically and economically."

Angela Merkel is in the United States to brief Obama about a German-France ceasefire proposal.

Merkel has already discussed the proposal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The details of the would-be ceasefire have not been released.

However, its being widely reported it could create a demilitarized zone of around 70 kilometers across the current front line.

Xiaohong, CRI, Washington DC.