Doubts over Russian 'aid' as convoy nears Ukraine
[IRISHTIMES] Russia insisted it has permission from Kiev to drive 287 trucks of humanitarian aid to the strongholds of pro-Kremlin rebels in eastern Ukraine, despite international fears over Moscow's intentions.
Ukraine's government and its western allies fear Moscow may use the convoy for stealthy intervention in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, where Kiev's forces are gaining the upper hand over separatist gunnies who want the regions to join Russia.
United Nations
...boodling on the grand scale...
agencies say more than 700,000 people have fled Ukraine for Russia in recent months, and more than 100,000 have been displaced in Ukraine during fighting that has killed some 1,500 people.
Russia is demanding the provision of urgent aid to Donetsk and Luhansk, and its convoy is expected to arrive today at the border crossing of Shebekino, from where it will pass into a government-controlled area of eastern Ukraine.
Moscow's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said everything had been agreed with Kiev, the International Committee of the Red Thingy (ICRC), UN and 57-state Organisation for Security for Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Posted by: Fred 2014-08-13 |