Russia Reaches Deal on Ukraine Aid with Kiev, Says Lavrov
The Kremlin said Monday that Russia was sending a "humanitarian convoy" to eastern Ukraine despite Western fears that the mission might be used as a cover for intervention.
"The Russian side is sending a humanitarian convoy to Ukraine in cooperation with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross," President Vladimir Putin told European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso on the phone, according to a Kremlin statement.
Putin told Barroso of the need for an immediate humanitarian mission, citing the "catastrophic consequences of the military operation led by Kiev authorities" in eastern Ukraine, the statement said.
Western countries have raised fears that Russia will use a humanitarian mission as a cover for intervening in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops are trying to drive out pro-Russian insurgents.
Russia said earlier on Monday that it had reached an agreement with Ukraine on providing humanitarian aid to rebel-held cities in the country's east, but there was no immediate confirmation from Kiev.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he hoped Western countries would not "interfere" in the agreement, amid concerns Russia could use humanitarian assistance as a pretext for a military intervention.
"Today all of the possible and impossible pretexts (for not letting Russian aid through) have been lifted," Lavrov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.
"I hope that very soon this humanitarian action will take place under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross. We have agreed all details with the Ukrainian leadership. I hope that Western partners won't interfere."
A spokesman for the Ukrainian presidency declined to comment immediately on Lavrov's statement.
Russia has pushed for a humanitarian ceasefire in eastern Ukraine as Kiev's forces have encircled large rebel-held cities in the region, but Western countries fear that Moscow will use the aid mission as cover for sending in troops it has reportedly massed at the border.
On Saturday Britain said "a so-called humanitarian mission would be unjustified and illegal", after Prime Minister David Cameron discussed the matter with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who also spoke on the issue with U.S. President Barack Obama.
"If it is true that... three leaders agreed that southeastern Ukraine does not need humanitarian aid because all measures are already being taken, then that is flagrant cynicism," Lavrov said.
Ukrainian troops have moved in on Donetsk, the largest city in eastern Ukraine, pounding neighborhoods with shelling in an attempt to drive out pro-Russian separatists.
Source: Agence France Presse
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