U.S. Senator Bill Nelson to visit Ukraine

ORLANDO, Florida -  With thousands of Russian troops at the Ukrainian border and tensions continuing there in a months-long conflict, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, is heading to the region for a series of meetings on defense planning and other issues.

Nelson is scheduled to leave for the region from Central Florida later this week, though specific times aren't being released.

Already, the U.S. and NATO are supplying non-lethal military equipment to Ukrainian forces.  And the Obama administration reportedly would consider sending weapons to Ukraine if Russia were to invade.

Meantime, Ukrainian troops have surrounded the rebel-stronghold of Donetsk in the eastern part of the country, while Russia has pushed to be able to bring aid to the area. 

Says Nelson, "I believe Putin's offer of humanitarian aid is a guise to invade."