UK official William Hague announces Georgia visit

UK's Foreign Secretary William Hague; Photo by Reuters.
Agenda.ge, 30 Apr 2014 - 11:43, Tbilisi,Georgia

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced he will visit Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova next week in a show of support for Kiev and other pro-European Union governments, Agence France-Presse reported.

Speaking to Parliament, Hague criticised Russia as tensions mounted in eastern Ukraine while announcing his plans to visit the area next week.

"I intend to travel to the region next week, including to Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova," he said, adding that Britain had sent four Typhoon fighter jets to boost NATO's regular Baltic Air Policing Mission.

"We stand ready to provide more support as NATO's response develops," he added.

Georgia and Moldova are the two countries of the former Soviet bloc to have initialled Association Agreements with the EU, Agence France-Presse said.

The announcement came as the United States and the EU stepped up pressure on Moscow, with the White House imposing sanctions on seven Russian officials and 17 firms close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Brussels adding 15 names to its own list.