Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday tried to dissuade President Barack Obama from arming Ukraine in its conflict against Russian-backed separatists, Reuters reported. The German head of government is visiting the White House following last week's top-level diplomatic efforts, in which she and French President François Hollande tried to mediate between Kiev and Moscow.

Merkel's warning that sending Western weapons to Kiev might further escalate the regional conflict "is likely to get a sympathetic hearing." But The New York Times noted earlier this month that the Obama administration was already considering such lethal assistance, which is supported by Gen. Philip Breedlove, NATO's military commander.

Obama had yet to make a decision on the matter, but key officials were open to new discussions about providing defensive arms and equipment. Among those supporting the move were Secretary of State John Kerry and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Merkel, while strongly opposed to supplying weapons, unlike other European leaders also holds firm against other concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Guardian said. The chancellor knew the West may be looking at a generational, long-haul effort to contain and and isolate Russia.

Her defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, though, underlined the German government's insistence on diplomatic solutions.

"It must be possible to find -- not through military conflict but at the negotiating table -- a balance of interests inside Ukraine that guarantees both the integrity of the state and the appropriate scale of autonomy [for the militants]," von der Leyen told The Associated Press.

Kerry, while open to negotiations, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" he also remained open to possible arms shipments.

"The solution is a political, diplomatic one," he said. "But President Putin's got to make the decision to take an off ramp. And we have to make it clear to him that we are absolutely committed to the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, no matter what."

At the traditional Munich Security Conference, Vice President Joe Biden indicated considerations continued at the White House.

"We will continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance not to encourage war, but to allow Ukraine to defend itself," he said.

Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain, also in attendance in the Bavarian capital, slammed the Obama administration on its perceived indecisiveness.

"The Ukrainians are being slaughtered and we're sending them blankets and meals," he noted. "Blankets don't do well against Russian tanks."