The top U.S. military commander has said he recommended that the United States provide lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine to help the country "protect [its] sovereignty" amid a conflict with Russia-backed separatists.

General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 26 that a proposal to provide lethal aid to Ukraine was awaiting a decision from the White House.

"In my judgment, from the military perspective, Ukraine needed additional capabilities to protect their sovereignty," Dunford said when asked why he supported the provision of lethal weapons.