Putin: Ukraine sent weapons to Georgia

MOSCOW, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Ukrainian officials Friday of sending both weapons and military personnel to Georgia.

While Putin did not directly accuse Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko of authorizing the supplies, he said he suspected Ukraine aided Georgia during the recent military engagement between the two countries, Sky News said.

Putin made the comments while meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and commented afterward that such supply efforts are a "crime."

"When people and military systems are used to kill Russian soldiers, it's a crime," Putin said.

"Only a few years ago, it could not even come to mind, even in a nightmare, that Russians and Ukrainians would be fighting each other."

Tymoshenko assured Putin that his allegations would be investigated by a parliamentary panel and called for peace in the region, Sky News reported.

"We have seen a very difficult development in Georgia," she told her Russian counterpart. "We would like to see a peaceful settlement of the conflict."