Ukraine Ready to Help Post-War Settlement in Iraq

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has announced his country's readiness to take an active part in the post-war restoration process in Iraq.

Addressing Ukraine's Supreme Rada on Tuesday, Kuchma said the Ukrainian military would be among the first to offer help to the region's civilian population in case weapons of mass destruction were used against it. "It was a sign that we are a civilised nation loyal to universal values," he stressed.

Kuchma also emphasised that Ukraine supported the idea of urgently settling the military conflict on the basis of the interests of international security.

Earlier, Ukraine had announced it was ready to assist the post-war settlement in Iraq and receive recovering Iraqi children. So far, it has limited itself to lending its 448-strong 19th Separate Battalion of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection to Kuwait.