USA punishes Ukraine

Washington has gone ahead with its promise to cut aid to Ukraine due to an alleged arms sale to Iraq, involving President Leonid Kuchma. Now the voice of Washington joins those of internal protest.

Richard Baucher, State Department spokesperson, declared that economic aid was being suspended to Ukraine because of a deal to sell anti-aircraft systems to Baghdad, in violation of international agreements.

The declarations come after Nikolai Melnichenko, a member of President Kuchma’s security team, fled to America with a taped conversation between Kuchma and an associate who had been contacted by Iraq through a Jordanian businessman.

It is believed that the systems were sold for 100 million USD, far more than the 54 million USD of suspended US aid.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru