BRUSSELS – Ukraine is ready to assist Afghanistan by supplying it with funding and material aid in the form of military equipment, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko has said after a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday.
"We won’t compete with the United States, as we have different budgets and capabilities. But we will make an affordable contribution," the minister said.
According to Hryschenko, this issue will be developed with NATO. He added that, in particular, the Armed Forces of Afghanistan need weapons.
"If they are interested in it [arms] or other military equipment, we will consider possibilities of providing such aid," he said.
The minister also said that "there is a possibility that supplies of such special equipment would be paid."
Hryschenko also said that "as it appeared in Iraq, the U.S. equipment is not meant for these specific conditions."
"Our armored personnel carriers are much stronger against these conditions. They are not so expensive and are more comfortable for those who are not going to serve as a private or a lance corporal for years. As to funding, of course it cannot be big, but we don’t rule it out," the minister said.
On April 18-19, Brussels hosted a meeting of defense and foreign ministers of NATO and its partners in operations in Afghanistan.
