Ukraine ponders future of Iraq troops
Ukraine has made another strong hint that it plans to reduce or withdraw its 1600 troops from Iraq, although the immediate date for the decision remains unclear.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich was quoted on Monday by the Interfax news agency as saying that he planned to discuss the politically charged issue with the former Soviet republic’s security council in the coming weeks.
“Concerning Iraq, we need to make a decision to limit our
contingent, and I will raise this question” during the meeting,
Yanukovich was quoted as saying.
His comments were the latest in a series from Ukrainian officials who agree that their 1600 plus contingent, overseen by Polish troops and stationed in southern Iraq, should be withdrawn soon.
Despite offering its troops for the US-led war, Ukraine still
has strained relations with Washington, which is concerned by Kiev’s human rights record and alleged black market arms sales.