Ukraine closes record armaments deal with Iraq

Ukraine has sealed the biggest arms deal in the history of the country, worth 2.4 billion dollars, with Iraq, the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported Wednesday. "The Iraq deal will create orders for more than 80 Ukrainian firms," said Kiev parliamentarian Jaroslav Djodshik. The list of equipment to be delivered to Iraq includes tanks, armoured transport vehicles and airplane components.
Weapons expert Sergei Sgurez said the deal would not have been possible without the support of the US military, which is funding the development of the Iraqi army with around three billion dollars. Until now, the largest arms sale by the ex-Soviet republic comprised 320 tanks sold to Pakistan in 1990. At the time, Moscow tried to torpedo the deal because Russia was delivering tanks to Pakistan's neighbour and rival India.