US not mulling missile-defense systems in Ukraine, Georgia (Victoria Nuland)

The United States was not considering the possibility to deploy its missile defense systems in Ukraine or Georgia, a US official said Tuesday.

"We have no plans for deployment of a missile defense system in Ukraine or Georgia," US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland told a press conference.

Nuland also denied reports that the anti-government protests in Ukraine, which led to the ouster of former president Viktor Yanukovych in February, were orchestrated by Washington, saying that the rallies "got zero assistance" from the United States.

• Meanwhile, Nuland said that Washington had been providing financial support for Ukraine's reforms since 1991 and reiterated her country's commitment to continue the assistance.

The United States was ready to allocate around 48 million US dollars to Kiev for economic stabilization, enhancing fight against corruption,constitutional reform and strengthening of national security, Nuland added.

• Since February, rumors had been circulating in some local and foreign media that the United States might have been supporting protests in Ukraine that began in November 2013 to back the country's European integration.

On March 5, local media, citing Ukrainian Ambassador to Belarus Mykhailo Yezhel, said Kiev was in talks with Washington over a possible deployment of missile defense systems in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry later dismissed that reports.

On June 4, the White House said US President Barack Obama had approved more than 23 million dollars as security assistance to Ukraine since early March, when a new wave of unrest began in the eastern regions of the country. 
Sources:Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
10/6/14
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Related:

• Statement by NATO Secretary General on the so called elections in South Ossetia, Georgia

• NATO to consider Georgia’s offer to host defensive systems

• Russia to respond to NATO's growing activities near Russian borders(Valery Gerasimov)

• General Valery Gerasimov expressed concern over NATO activity near Russian borders

• Joint statement following the meeting between the European Commission and the Government of Georgia

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  • NATO-Georgia Commission discusses Ukraine crisis, Georgia’s progress on reforms(4/6/14)

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    • U.S. Assistance to Georgia (The White House)