Further details have emerged on reports that Georgia has rejected Ukraine’s request to return the BUK air defense system it received from Kyiv in 2008.
It has emerged that the United States had agreed to replace the system with mode modern US-made air defense capability.
The news was first voiced by the Ukrainian Chargé d’Affaires in Tbilisi Andryii Kasyanov in his interview with Kyiv-based Ukrainskaya Pravda.
“But the initiative was categorically rejected,” Mr Kasyanov said.
Following the interview, the Ministry of Defense of Georgia issued a statement arguing that the BUK air defense system was purchased by Georgia in 2007.
The statement, however, did not even mention the US offer to replace the BUK with newer American systems.
While mentioning “humanitarian and political support” provided to Ukraine by Georgia, the statement also ruled out any transfer of military and even dual-use items to Ukraine.
Georgian Dream MPs said the transfer would equal “dragging Georgia into the war.”
Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili blasted Georgian Government from detention, calling the refusal “embarrassing.”
“Essentially this means that for the Georgian Dream enhancing Georgia’s defense capabilities equals to ‘dragging Georgia into war.” Mr Bokeria stated.
European Georgia Chair and former National Security Council Secretary Giga Bokeria said at the time when Georgia bought BUK from Ukraine the purchase essentially equaled a donation because Putin was still viewed as a partner, making arms procurement extremely complicated.
He also said by confirming this proposal, the Georgian Government indirectly confirmed the US offer to replace the Soviet-made system with newer and better defense systems.
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