Russia sends 280 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Ukraine

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia said a convoy of 280 trucks carrying humanitarian aid set off for Ukraine on Tuesday, Aug 12, amid Western warnings against using help as a pretext for an invasion, according to Reuters.

With Ukraine reporting Russia has amassed 45,000 troops on its border, NATO said there was a "high probability" that Moscow could intervene militarily in the country's east, where Kiev's forces are closing in on pro-Russian armed groups

ITAR-TASS news agency said the convoy has departed from near Moscow which means it would take it a couple of days to arrive in east Ukraine, about 1,000 km (620 miles) to the southwest.

"It has all been agreed with Ukraine," Business FM radio quoted President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, as saying.

In Kiev, a government source, who did not wish to be named, said there had been no agreement for Russian vehicles to cross into Ukraine. Kiev backs a broad international mission including the United States and the European Union alongside Russia, under the aegis of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"There is no agreement from the Ukrainian side for Russian vehicles to enter Ukrainian territory. The Red Cross is looking for transport companies which will take over the issue of delivering humanitarian cargo to the east also from the United States and the EU," the source said.

There had been broad agreement that the Red Cross would take over all organizational and logistical questions for the international mission, a separate statement from the administration of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

Thousands of people are believed to be short of water, electricity and medical aid due to the fighting.