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| Ukraine crisis: Russian lorries leave as Merkel visits | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| About 100 lorries from an unauthorised Russian aid convoy have crossed back over the border from rebel-held eastern Ukraine, officials say. | |
| The convoy was returning from the city of Luhansk, which is held by pro-Russian separatists who have been battling Ukrainian government forces. | |
| Meanwhile German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev for talks. | |
| On Friday she described the convoy as a "dangerous escalation". | |
| Western officials fear the convoy could be part of a military intervention. | Western officials fear the convoy could be part of a military intervention. |
| But Kremlin officials say the vehicles are only carrying generators, food and drink. | But Kremlin officials say the vehicles are only carrying generators, food and drink. |
| The lorries had already been waiting at the border for a week, while Russia, the Ukrainian government and the Red Cross tried to come to an agreement on their passage. | The lorries had already been waiting at the border for a week, while Russia, the Ukrainian government and the Red Cross tried to come to an agreement on their passage. |
| The Russians said they could not wait any longer, owing to the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, which is held by pro-Russian separatists. | The Russians said they could not wait any longer, owing to the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, which is held by pro-Russian separatists. |
| Four months of fighting in the region have left more than 2,000 people dead. More than 330,000 people have fled flee their homes. | Four months of fighting in the region have left more than 2,000 people dead. More than 330,000 people have fled flee their homes. |
| 'Violation of soveignty' | 'Violation of soveignty' |
| At least 220 trucks drove into Ukraine on Friday, headed for the rebel-held city of Luhansk, which has been affected by weeks of fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels. | At least 220 trucks drove into Ukraine on Friday, headed for the rebel-held city of Luhansk, which has been affected by weeks of fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels. |
| International monitors based in the border region say that some of the vehicles have now crossed back into Russia, a development confirmed by Russian news agencies. | International monitors based in the border region say that some of the vehicles have now crossed back into Russia, a development confirmed by Russian news agencies. |
| According to the Associated Press, journalists could see that about 40 of these returning lorries were empty - but it is unclear whether all of them are, and it also unclear what the convoy delivered. | According to the Associated Press, journalists could see that about 40 of these returning lorries were empty - but it is unclear whether all of them are, and it also unclear what the convoy delivered. |
| The White House and the Ukrainian government both described the deployment of the convoy as a flagrant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. | The White House and the Ukrainian government both described the deployment of the convoy as a flagrant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. |
| In a phone call, US President Barack Obama and Mrs Merkel said the conflict "has continued to deteriorate" since a Malaysian airliner was downed last month over rebel-held territory, with the loss of all 298 people on board. | In a phone call, US President Barack Obama and Mrs Merkel said the conflict "has continued to deteriorate" since a Malaysian airliner was downed last month over rebel-held territory, with the loss of all 298 people on board. |
| Ukraine called the Russian convoy a "direct invasion" of Ukraine. | Ukraine called the Russian convoy a "direct invasion" of Ukraine. |
| Nato and the European Union have also criticised what they said was a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. | Nato and the European Union have also criticised what they said was a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. |
| Nato officials have accused Russia of building up troops on its border, saying significant numbers of Russian forces are operating within Ukraine, using artillery. | Nato officials have accused Russia of building up troops on its border, saying significant numbers of Russian forces are operating within Ukraine, using artillery. |
| But speaking to the UN Security Council, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin accused Western powers of distorting reality. | But speaking to the UN Security Council, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin accused Western powers of distorting reality. |
| "Sometimes it reminded me of the kingdom of crooked mirrors because some members of the Council were not concerned about the fact hundreds of civilians are dying." | "Sometimes it reminded me of the kingdom of crooked mirrors because some members of the Council were not concerned about the fact hundreds of civilians are dying." |
| He said Russia had to act to save perishable goods and that he hoped the Red Cross would help distribute the aid. | He said Russia had to act to save perishable goods and that he hoped the Red Cross would help distribute the aid. |
| "We waited long enough. And it was time to move, and this is what we did," he said. | "We waited long enough. And it was time to move, and this is what we did," he said. |