Washington, March 6 (RHC)-- U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and a group of senior Republican and Democratic lawmakers are urging President Barack Obama to send "lethal" weapons to Ukraine. "We urge you to quickly approve additional efforts to support Ukraine's efforts to defend its sovereign territory, including through the transfer of lethal, defensive weapons systems to the Ukrainian military," read a letter Thursday to the president by 11 lawmakers.

Boehner, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and top Republicans and Democrats from the House Foreign Affairs, Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, as well as the Republican chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and Defense and State and Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittees all signed the letter.

Last month, the U.S. president said Washington was still considering sending lethal aid to Ukraine, saying: "If, in fact, diplomacy fails, what I've asked my team to do is to look at all options."

The letter was written after Boehner, other members of Congress and Ukrainian lawmakers met last week during which they discussed the need for additional U.S. help to Ukraine.