Rounds Joins Other Senators In Urging Obama to Arm Ukraine

WASHINGTON - South Dakota's junior U.S. Senator is joining other lawmakers in urging the president to arm Ukrainians in the fight against Russia-backed separatists.

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Rounds and other senators held a press conference Thursday to call on President Barack Obama to supply Ukraine with "lethal arms."

Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and government forces picked up in January after a month of relative calm. The rebels pledge to carry on with their offensive on the government positions until Kiev stops shelling cities like Donetsk.

Rounds says allowing Ukrainians to "punch the bully in the nose" could make Russian President Vladimir Putin "think twice" about aggression.