This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28910215
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 7 | Version 8 |
---|---|
Ukraine crisis: Russian lorries leave as Merkel visits | Ukraine crisis: Russian lorries leave as Merkel visits |
(35 minutes later) | |
All the lorries from an unauthorised Russian aid convoy have now crossed back over the border from Ukraine. | All the lorries from an unauthorised Russian aid convoy have now crossed back over the border from Ukraine. |
The convoy returned from the eastern city of Luhansk, which is held by pro-Russian separatists. Kiev and Western officials fear the trucks may have had military equipment to help the rebels. | The convoy returned from the eastern city of Luhansk, which is held by pro-Russian separatists. Kiev and Western officials fear the trucks may have had military equipment to help the rebels. |
Russia said they had delivered generators, food and drink. | Russia said they had delivered generators, food and drink. |
Meanwhile, Ukraine is to receive a 500-euro (£400m) loan from Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Kiev. | Meanwhile, Ukraine is to receive a 500-euro (£400m) loan from Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Kiev. |
The money will be used to help rebuild the country's damaged infrastructure, Mrs Merkel said in a joint press conference with President Petro Poroschenko in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday. | |
A further 25m euros will go toward helping refugees, she said. | A further 25m euros will go toward helping refugees, she said. |
Four months of fighting in the region have left more than 2,000 people dead. More than 330,000 people have fled their homes. | Four months of fighting in the region have left more than 2,000 people dead. More than 330,000 people have fled their homes. |
'Dangerous escalation' | 'Dangerous escalation' |
Prior to her arrival in Kiev, Mrs Merkel described the Russian convoy's movement into Ukrainian territory as a "dangerous escalation". | Prior to her arrival in Kiev, Mrs Merkel described the Russian convoy's movement into Ukrainian territory as a "dangerous escalation". |
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said there was no information about what most of the convoy - of more than 200 vehicles - was carrying. | Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said there was no information about what most of the convoy - of more than 200 vehicles - was carrying. |
The head of the OSCE mission, Paul Picard, told the BBC that only the first 37 trucks had been inspected by the Red Cross before they set off into Russia. | The head of the OSCE mission, Paul Picard, told the BBC that only the first 37 trucks had been inspected by the Red Cross before they set off into Russia. |
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 the convoy started moving because it could not wait any longer, owing to the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, which is held by pro-Russian separatists. | The Russians said the convoy started moving because it could not wait any longer, owing to the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, which is held by pro-Russian separatists. |
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 had "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 had "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. |