WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (AFP) - The United States on Monday praised Ukraine as a "strong and valued member" of the US-led military coalition in Iraq after the country's prime minister delivered a strong hint that it planned to reduce or withdraw its 1,600 troops from Iraq.
"I would note that Ukraine is a strong and valued member of the coalition," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said. "Their contributions are important and valuable.
"We note, obviously, that these are expensive missions, both in terms of resources as well as lives," he told reporters. "These are sacrifices that we value and we think are honored in the cause of freedom."
Earlier Monday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that he planned to discuss the politically-charged issue with the former Soviet republic's security council in the coming weeks, although an immediate date for a decision remained unclear.
"Concerning Iraq, we need to make a decision to limit our contingent, and I will raise this question" during the meeting, Yanukovich was quoted as saying.
His comments were the latest in a series from Ukrainian officials who agree that their 1,600-plus contingent overseen by Polish troops and stationed in southern Iraq should be withdrawn soon.
Ereli stopped short of directly addressing the possibility that Ukraine might pull its troops out, but stressed that the goal of the new Iraqi government, the United States and all members of the coalition was to improve security to a point where foreign forces are not necessary in Iraq.
"We'd certainly hope that ... over time all of us will be able to gradually reduce the force presence in Iraq," he said. "That's ... the goal that we're all working toward."