Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says US must give Ukraine 'military ... trends now

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States must provide Ukraine with the military equipment it needs to defeat Russia and insisted ongoing support is 'in America's best interest'.

Pompeo, who is also the former Director of the CIA, said providing Ukraine with support is the fastest way to end the war.

He spoke amid reports the US is preparing to send a shipment of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, while European countries also weighing sending further arms to Kyiv.

Asked on Fox News if The US should be helping Ukraine, he said: 'I think about it a little differently. We should be helping America.

'Helping America means a sovereign nation that is prepared to defend itself from an invasion and an attack where civilians are being killed by Vladimir Putin is in America's best interest for our economy, for our security.

'We should be doing everything the Ukrainians are asking us to do. They haven't asked us to send our soldiers. They haven't asked for the 82nd Airborne. They've simply said, provide us the stuff we need. And it is their lives that are at risk.'

His comments come amid discussion in the US around how much further support should be given to Ukraine. Washington has already pledged billions in military aid and politicians are divided over whether the expensive support should continue.

Pompeo added: 'The Biden administration has been afraid to win.

'They've been afraid to provide the Ukrainians with the tools they need to be successful. And this will end with a negotiated solution.