Agents from the US spy agency CIA and its domestic intelligence and investigative arm, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) are advising the current government in Kiev on how to deal with the ‘fight against organized crime’ and stop the violence in the country’s restive eastern regions, Germany-based newspaper Bild reported on Sunday.
The American team, the report adds, is also involved in investigating alleged financial crimes and is trying to trace the money, which was reportedly taken abroad during Viktor Yanokovich’s presidency.
According to the report, CIA Director John Brennan visited Kiev in mid-April and met with the acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and first Vice-President Vitaly Yarema to discuss a safer way to transfer US information to Ukraine.
Jen Psaki, spokeswomen for the United States Department of State, said that there was nothing to read into Brennan’s visit to Kiev, and that the CIA chief did not offer support to the coup-appointed government in the country to help them conduct tactical operations within Ukraine.
However, following the Brennan visit, the ousted Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovich linked the CIA chief’s appearance in Kiev to the first stage of the new government’s crackdown in Slavyansk.
Brennan “sanctioned the use of weapons and provoked bloodshed,” Yanukovich said.
Bild’s revelations comes while US President Barack Obama has rules out Washington’s intent to interfere in the Ukraine crisis.
“You’ve also seen suggestions or implications that somehow Americans are responsible for meddling inside Ukraine. I have to say that our only interest is for Ukraine to be able to make its own decisions. And the last thing we want is disorder and chaos in the center of Europe,” Obama proclaimed Friday at the White House following a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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