Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Ukraine Blocks Russian Humanitarian Convoy, Accuses Kremlin Of Sending "Disguised Military Gear"



Submitted by Tyler Durden on 08/12/2014 10:03 -0400


Ukraine



It took virtually no time from the announcement of the massive, 300-vehicle strong Russian humanitarian convoy destined to alleviate the crisis in east Ukraine, to its departure, leading many to assume - correctly - that the operation had been planned weeks in advance.



Truck convoy sets out from Alabino near Moscow (RIA)



Russian TV showed the aid being loaded onto trucks.

However, with the trucks currently in transit from a point southwest of Moscow and set to enter Ukrainian territory through a customs checkpoint in the Kharkiv region, according to former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, a snag has appeared: Ukraine, which previously blessed the Russian convoy's entry into the country has had a change of heart and has announced it would not allow the convoy in its current state.

UKRAINE WON'T ALLOW RUSSIAN AID CONVOY TO ENTER, CHALY SAYS

As Ukraine security council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said early this morning, the convoy should pass through a government-controlled border post and be accompanied by Red Cross officials. As BBC adds, what was previously a greenlighted operation merely under the condition that it was spearheaded by the Red Cross, Lysenko said Ukraine had three conditions for receiving the aid:
  • That it should pass through a border post controlled by Ukrainian government guards
  • That it should be accompanied by Red Cross representatives
  • That a decision should be made about the amount being sent, its destination and route.

Lysenko further adds that the convoy of 280 trucks dispatched on Tuesday “did not pass the ICRC certification.”

Another Ukrainian official, Valery Chaly, said Ukraine would not allow access to a convoy accompanied by the Russian military or Emergencies Ministry.

The BBC's David Stern, in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, says there has been some confusion in the Ukrainian government's response to news of the convoy, suggesting it has been taken by surprise. Nothing surprising about that.

Presidential aide Valery Chaliy said Kiev wants the entire cargo to be unloaded on the border and transferred to Red Cross vehicles.

“We will not allow any escort of the Russian Emergencies Ministry or Russian military,” he said. “Ukraine will take responsibility for this procedure.”


Read more:  http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-12/ukraine-blocks-russian-humanitarian-convoy-accuses-kremlin-sending-disguised-militar
.

No comments: