Ukraine denies weapons sale allegations

KIEV, Ukraine, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Ukraine's defense minister Monday called allegations that Ukraine is unlawfully arming Georgia unfounded.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, in a statement while traveling on government business to Ukraine's Chernivtsi region in the country's west, denied Ukraine was involved in any unlawful dealing of weapons to Georgia, saying the allegations "hold no water," the Ukrainian government reported.

Yekhanurov said Georgia doesn't have any international sanctions against it and Ukraine's Ukrspetsexport, a government agency in charge of arms export, follows all international laws.

"If someone buys Ukrainian weapons, it means they enjoy demand in the world market," Yekhanurov said in a statement.

"We have a lot of excessive arms, and are trying to sell them, but only to the countries where there is no international embargo on arms trade."