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Russia warned against Ukraine military action Ukraine and Russia 'agree' to aid mission to Luhansk
(about 1 hour later)
EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has told Russia's Vladimir Putin not to carry out unilateral military action in eastern Ukraine under any pretext. Ukraine and Russia say they have agreed to a Red Cross-led humanitarian aid mission to the eastern Ukrainian rebel stronghold of Luhansk.
The two leaders spoke over the phone as the Kremlin announced it was working with the Red Cross on sending a humanitarian aid convoy to the region. The Kremlin earlier announced it was working with the Red Cross to send a humanitarian aid convoy to the region.
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has accused Russia of using humanitarian grounds as a pretext for military intervention. The EU Commission chief has warned Russia not to carry out unilateral military action "under any pretext".
The Red Cross is yet to comment. Ukraine and Western governments had previously objected to Russia sending any aid into the region.
The Red Cross has not yet commented on the latest announcements.
At least 1,500 people have died since Ukraine's new government sent in troops to put down an insurrection by pro-Russia separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in mid-April.At least 1,500 people have died since Ukraine's new government sent in troops to put down an insurrection by pro-Russia separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in mid-April.
The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have fled to Russia.The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have fled to Russia.
Ukrainian forces have now encircled Donetsk, a city of one million people before the unrest began, and residents are struggling without power or reliable sources of food.Ukrainian forces have now encircled Donetsk, a city of one million people before the unrest began, and residents are struggling without power or reliable sources of food.
Humanitarian convoyHumanitarian convoy
In a statement after Mr Putin's conversation with the European Commission president, the Kremlin said: "It was noted that the Russian side, in cooperation with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, will send to Ukraine a humanitarian convoy." In a statement after Mr Putin's conversation with the European Commission president, the Kremlin said: "It was noted that the Russian side, in co-operation with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, will send to Ukraine a humanitarian convoy."
It did not say when the aid convoy would leave. The Red Cross acknowledged last week that it had received an offer from the Russian foreign minister about organising aid convoys to the affected areas in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed on Russian TV that an agreement had been reached with Kiev and the Red Cross on humanitarian aid for eastern Ukraine.
But the Ukrainian government in Kiev and Western powers fear that a Russian humanitarian mission in the east could be used as a pretext to bring Russian military forces across the border. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's press secretary, Svyatoslav Tsegolko, also said in a statement that a humanitarian mission to Luhansk had been agreed with the Red Cross with the EU, Russia, Germany and other partners participating.
In a telephone conversation with President Putin on Monday, the EU Commission's Jose Manuel Barroso "warned against any unilateral military actions in Ukraine, under any pretext, including humanitarian," an EU commission statement said. US President Barack Obama confirmed that the US would take an active part in the mission, he added.
President Barroso made a separate telephone call to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss the situation in Luhansk, it added. The Kremlin did not say when the aid convoy would leave. The Red Cross acknowledged last week that it had received an offer from the Russian foreign minister about organising aid convoys to the affected areas in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government in Kiev and Western powers had earlier expressed concern that a Russian humanitarian mission in the east could be used as a pretext to bring Russian military forces across the border.
Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has accused Russia of using humanitarian grounds as a pretext for military intervention.
In a telephone conversation with President Putin on Monday, EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso "warned against any unilateral military actions in Ukraine, under any pretext, including humanitarian," an EU commission statement said.
President Barroso made a separate telephone call to the Ukrainian president to discuss the situation in Luhansk, it added.
Pro-Russia separatists sparked a four-month battle with Ukrainian government forces when they overran large swathes of the east and declared independence from Ukraine.
Ukrainian government artillery has been pounding areas on the outskirts of rebel-held Donetsk.
It led to the escape of 106 prisoners from a high-security prison on the outskirts of the city, after the facility was hit by shells on Sunday night.
The fighting has also prevented a full investigation of the MH17 air disaster, in which 298 people died.
The Malaysia Airlines plane was brought down in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine on 17 July and the remains of many of the victims are still to be recovered.
It is strongly suspected that the plane was shot down by pro-Russian rebels. Russia and the separatists have blamed the Ukrainian military.