Since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022, more countries have provided Ukraine with lethal arms. A significant trend break for countries such as Germany, for example, therefore enjoying...Show moreSince the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022, more countries have provided Ukraine with lethal arms. A significant trend break for countries such as Germany, for example, therefore enjoying much attention in society and literature. However, situations in which states will not provide arms are also of great political importance (Spindel, 2018). As these cases tend to be overlooked, this thesis examines the decision-making process of the Obama Administration that led to the decision not to provide Ukraine lethal assistance during his second term in the White House (2014-2017). Its focus is understanding the limitations undermining the ability of the patron's dilemma to explain the Obama case, as this study finds insufficient empirical evidence to use the theory to explain Obama's decision.Show less