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Russian Trucks Cross Border Without Assent of Ukraine Russian Trucks Cross Border Without Assent of Ukraine
(about 1 hour later)
KIEV, Ukraine — KIEV, Ukraine — More than 200 trucks from a long-stalled Russian convoy said to be carrying humanitarian aid crossed the border into eastern Ukraine on Friday without Red Cross escorts, drawing angry accusations from Ukraine that Moscow had broken its word and mounted what a senior Ukrainian security official called a “direct invasion.”
More than 200 trucks from a long-stalled Russian convoy said to be carrying humanitarian aid crossed the border into eastern Ukraine on Friday without Red Cross escorts, drawing angry accusations from Ukraine that Moscow had broken its word and mounted what a senior Ukrainian security official called a “direct invasion.”
At a news briefing in Washington, the Pentagon spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby, condemned the convoy as an “unauthorized entry into Ukraine” and called for the vehicles’ immediate withdrawal.At a news briefing in Washington, the Pentagon spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby, condemned the convoy as an “unauthorized entry into Ukraine” and called for the vehicles’ immediate withdrawal.
But Ukraine stepped back from earlier threats to use “all forces available” to halt any Russian vehicles that crossed the frontier without its full accord, and President Petro O. Poroshenko assured the visiting foreign minister of Lithuania that “we will do our best to ensure that this did not lead to more serious consequences.” But Ukraine stepped back from earlier threats to use “all forces available” to halt any Russian vehicles that crossed the frontier without its full accord, and President Petro O. Poroshenko told the visiting foreign minister of Lithuania, “We will do our best to ensure that this does not lead to more serious consequences.”
The comments by Mr. Poroshenko, however, who on Saturday hosts a visit by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, suggested that Ukraine would limit its response to verbal protests and not use force against the Russian vehicles. The comments by Mr. Poroshenko, however, who on Saturday is to welcome the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, to Kiev, suggested that Ukraine would limit its response to verbal protests and not use force against the Russian vehicles.
The arrival of the first Russian aid trucks in Ukrainian territory nonetheless sharply raised tensions between the two estranged neighbors ahead of talks next Tuesday between Mr. Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir V. Putin. The two leaders are scheduled to meet, along with officials from the European Union, in the Belarus capital of Minsk. The arrival of the first Russian aid trucks in Ukrainian territory nonetheless sharply raised tensions between the two estranged neighbors ahead of talks next Tuesday between Mr. Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir V. Putin. The two leaders are scheduled to meet, along with officials from the European Union, in the Belarus capital, Minsk.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a long statement in Moscow saying in essence that it had authorized the crossing because it was fed up with stalling by the government in Kiev. Russian news agencies quoted a spokesman for Mr. Putin as saying that he “had been informed” of the convoy’s movements. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a long statement in Moscow saying in essence that it had authorized the crossing because it was fed up with stalling by the government in Kiev. Russian news agencies quoted a spokesman for Mr. Putin as saying that he had been informed of the convoy’s movements.
“All the excuses to delay the delivery of aid to people in the area of a humanitarian catastrophe are exhausted,” the ministry said. “The Russian side has made a decision to act. Our column with humanitarian cargo starts moving toward Luhansk.”“All the excuses to delay the delivery of aid to people in the area of a humanitarian catastrophe are exhausted,” the ministry said. “The Russian side has made a decision to act. Our column with humanitarian cargo starts moving toward Luhansk.”
In addition to describing the entry of the Russian trucks as a “direct invasion,” Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the head of Ukraine’s Security Service, asserted that the vehicles were driven by Russian military personnel and were part of the first incursion ever carried out “under the cover of the Red Cross.”In addition to describing the entry of the Russian trucks as a “direct invasion,” Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the head of Ukraine’s Security Service, asserted that the vehicles were driven by Russian military personnel and were part of the first incursion ever carried out “under the cover of the Red Cross.”
Rather than an invasion, however, the arrival of Russian trucks, which Ukrainian officials partly inspected Thursday evening on the Russian side of the border and found to contain buckwheat, rice, sugar and water, appeared to be a Russian effort to stall an accelerating offensive by Ukrainian forces against beleaguered pro-Russian rebels. Rather than an invasion, however, the arrival of Russian trucks, some of which Ukrainian officials inspected Thursday evening on the Russian side of the border and found to contain buckwheat, rice, sugar and water, appeared to be a Russian effort to stall an accelerating offensive by Ukrainian forces against beleaguered pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The trucks are traveling toward Luhansk, a besieged rebel-held city that has come under heavy pressure in recent days from Ukrainian forces. The city’s fall would deliver a humiliating blow to Mr. Putin, who has faced mounting calls from hard-line nationalists in Russia to intervene decisively to stave off defeat for the Russian-speaking and often ethnically Russian rebels. The trucks are traveling toward Luhansk, a besieged, rebel-held city where on Friday the honorary consul for Lithuanian, a Ukrainian national named Mykola Zelenec, was kidnapped and shot to death by unknown assailants, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said.
Luhansk has come under heavy pressure in recent days from Ukrainian forces. The city’s fall would deliver a humiliating blow to Mr. Putin, who has faced mounting calls from hard-line nationalists in Russia to intervene decisively to stave off defeat for the Russian-speaking and often ethnically Russian rebels.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied supporting the rebels, despite a steady flow of arms and fighters into eastern Ukraine from Russia, but has tied itself to their fate by whipping up a nationalist fervor with vows by Mr. Putin to protect Russians beyond Russia’s borders.The Kremlin has repeatedly denied supporting the rebels, despite a steady flow of arms and fighters into eastern Ukraine from Russia, but has tied itself to their fate by whipping up a nationalist fervor with vows by Mr. Putin to protect Russians beyond Russia’s borders.
Spreading the conspicuously large, white aid trucks through Luhansk could effectively impose a cease-fire, essentially daring the Ukrainians to fire at vehicles that have been sent to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Any respite in Ukraine’s military offensive could allow rebels still fighting for control of Luhansk to dig in further, and indefinitely postpone any attempt to oust them. Spreading the conspicuously large white aid trucks through Luhansk could effectively impose a cease-fire, essentially daring the Ukrainians to fire at vehicles that have been sent to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Any respite in Ukraine’s military offensive could allow rebels still fighting for control of Luhansk to dig in further, and indefinitely postpone any attempt to oust them.
Ukraine has from the start viewed Russia’s aid convoy, which left Moscow on Tuesday last week, with deep suspicion, worrying that the vehicles could be carrying weapons or be part of a ruse by Moscow to support the pro-Russian separatists, who have declared their own separate states in Luhansk and a second rebel-held city of Donetsk. Ukraine has from the start viewed Russia’s aid convoy, which left Moscow on Tuesday last week, with deep suspicion, worrying that the vehicles could be carrying weapons or be part of a ruse by Moscow to support the pro-Russian separatists, who have declared their own separate states in Luhansk and a second rebel-held city, Donetsk.
Andriy Lysenko, Ukraine’s military spokesman, speaking at a news conference in Kiev, warned that Ukraine had no responsibility for the safety of Russian trucks traveling in rebel-controlled territory. But he did not repeat threats he made last week to block any Russian entry that violated agreements between Moscow and Kiev.Andriy Lysenko, Ukraine’s military spokesman, speaking at a news conference in Kiev, warned that Ukraine had no responsibility for the safety of Russian trucks traveling in rebel-controlled territory. But he did not repeat threats he made last week to block any Russian entry that violated agreements between Moscow and Kiev.
“This is a provocation,” Colonel Lysenko said. “They expect us to attack the convoy.” He added that Ukrainian forces would allow the convoy to reach Luhansk because “it is easy to shoot but the consequences would be very destructive.” He said Ukraine would adopt a different approach if it turned out that, after reaching Luhansk, the “convoy “has other equipment not just humanitarian aid.” “This is a provocation,” Colonel Lysenko said. “They expect us to attack the convoy.” He added that Ukrainian forces would allow the convoy to reach Luhansk because “it is easy to shoot but the consequences would be very destructive.” He said Ukraine would adopt a different approach if it turned out that, after reaching Luhansk, the convoy “has other equipment, not just humanitarian aid.”
Under the arrangements agreed to between the two countries, Red Cross officials were to escort the trucks to Luhansk, near the Russian border, but they decided not to proceed after heavy shelling around the city during the night, Ewan Watson, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said in Geneva. Under the arrangements agreed to by the two countries, officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross were to escort the trucks to Luhansk, near the Russian border. They decided not to proceed after heavy shelling around the city during the night, Ewan Watson, a spokesman for the Red Cross, said in Geneva.
The main highway from the border crossing at Izvaryne to Luhansk has seen heavy fighting over the past week, as Ukrainian forces pressed their military campaign against the pro-Russian separatists. The rebel forces have been driven out of a string of towns and villages but are still holding out in Luhansk and Donetsk. The main highway from the border crossing at Izvaryne to Luhansk has seen heavy fighting over the past week, as Ukrainian forces pressed their military campaign against the separatists. The rebel forces have been driven out of a string of towns and villages but are still holding out in Luhansk and Donetsk.
Ukraine charged that the arrival of Russian trucks without escorts from the International Committee of the Red Cross broke an understanding that the representatives of the Geneva-based organization would accompany the Russian aid on Ukrainian territory. Ukraine charged that the arrival of Russian trucks without Red Cross escorts broke an understanding that they would accompany the Russian aid on Ukrainian territory.
The Red Cross had earlier agreed to oversee delivery of the aid and had been part of the protracted negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian governments. There were no signs of Russian military vehicles or any other indications of an armed escort by Russian troops.The Red Cross had earlier agreed to oversee delivery of the aid and had been part of the protracted negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian governments. There were no signs of Russian military vehicles or any other indications of an armed escort by Russian troops.
The United States and its European allies have warned that any crossing of the border by Russian military vehicles, even under the pretext of protecting the aid convoy, would be regarded as an invasion.The United States and its European allies have warned that any crossing of the border by Russian military vehicles, even under the pretext of protecting the aid convoy, would be regarded as an invasion.
Several dozen trucks, from a convoy of about 270, crossed the border in the conflict-torn region of Luhansk shortly after noon. Soldiers carrying automatic rifles and wearing camouflage, some bearing the markings of the rebel fighters in eastern Ukraine, cleared the road of cars and people to let the convoy move past. Several dozen trucks, from a convoy of about 270, crossed the border around noon. Soldiers carrying automatic rifles and wearing camouflage, some bearing the markings of the rebel fighters in eastern Ukraine, cleared the road of cars and people to let the convoy move past.
Many of the remaining trucks in the Russian convoy later followed, including support vehicles carrying mechancs, tools and first aid. Four trucks carrying gas did not cross into Ukraine. Many of the remaining trucks in the Russian convoy later followed, including support vehicles carrying mechanics, tools and first aid. Four trucks carrying gas did not cross into Ukraine.
The initial group of trucks traveled about 10 miles to the eastern Ukrainian city of Krasnodon where they appeared to change course to take smaller roads, presumably to avoid areas of continuing fighting or narrow highway checkpoints. The initial group of trucks traveled about 10 miles to the city of Krasnodon, where they appeared to change course to take smaller roads, presumably to avoid areas of continuing fighting or narrow highway checkpoints.
In its statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry made clear that the Kremlin had decided on its own to send the convoy forward. Ukraine had for days stalled the convoy by delaying the start of inspections by its customs and border officials on the grounds that Moscow had not provided the necessary documentation to the Red Cross. The first inspections of the Russian trucks started Thursday night, with 34 trucks undergoing examination by Ukrainian officials on the Russian side of the border, Ukrainian officials said.
“All the excuses to delay the delivery of aid to people in the area of a humanitarian catastrophe are exhausted,” the Foreign Ministry said. “The Russian side has made a decision to act. Our column with humanitarian cargo starts moving toward Luhansk.”
The first inspections started Thursday night with 34 trucks undergoing examination by Ukrainian officials on the Russian side of the border, Ukrainian officials said.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing the Russians of “ignoring the established international rules, procedures and agreements reached with the consent and support of the International Committee of the Red Cross” and said that Russia was “smuggling humanitarian aid to Ukraine.”