"Today, in violation of its previous commitments and international law, Russian military vehicles painted to look like civilian trucks forced their way into Ukraine. While a small number of these vehicles were inspected by Ukrainian customs officials, most of the vehicles have not been inspected by anyone but Russia. We condemn this action by Russia, for which it will bear additional consequences.
The Ukrainian government and the international community have repeatedly made clear that this convoy would constitute a humanitarian mission only if expressly agreed to by the Ukrainian government and only if the aid was inspected, escorted and distributed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). We can confirm that the ICRC is not escorting the vehicles and has no role in managing the mission, a condition that all parties had agreed would be required. Under the agreed terms, the mission should have been accomplished by sending a small number of inspected trucks in to drop their supplies and return to Russia within 24 hours by the same approved route by which they entered. That is not what is taking place. As we and governments around the world have said all along, Russia has no right to send vehicles, persons, or cargo of any kind into Ukraine, whether under the guise of humanitarian convoys or any other pretext, without the express permission of the government of Ukraine.
The primary barrier to the delivery of the humanitarian aid has been the lack of security guarantees from the Russia-backed separatists. Russian military vehicles piloted by Russian drivers have unilaterally entered the territory controlled by the separatist forces Russia has been training, supplying, and reinforcing for months. The Ukrainian humanitarian assistance convoy was prevented from delivering much needed assistance to Luhansk city.
At the same time as Russian vehicles violate Ukraine’s sovereignty, Russia maintains a sizable military force on the Ukrainian border capable of invading Ukraine on very short notice. It has repeatedly fired into Ukrainian territory, and has sent an ever-increasing stream of military equipment and fighters into Ukraine. As a result, the international community has been profoundly concerned that Russia’s actions today are nothing but a pretext for further Russian escalation of the conflict. We recall that Russia denied its military was occupying Crimea until it later admitted its military role and attempted to annex this part of Ukraine.
Russia’s decision today to send in its vehicles and personnel without the ICRC and without the express permission of the Ukrainian authorities only amplifies international concerns about Russia’s true intentions. It is important to remember that Russia is purporting to alleviate a humanitarian situation which Russia itself created – a situation that has caused the deaths of thousands, including 300 innocent passengers of flight MH17. If Russia really wants to ease the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, it could do so today by halting its supply of weapons, equipment, and fighters to its proxies. This is a flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by Russia. Russia must remove its vehicles and its personnel from the territory of Ukraine immediately."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/08/22/statement-nsc-spokesperson-caitlin-hayden-russian-convoy-ukraine
22/8/14
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Merkel und Obama fordern Rückzug von Russen-Konvoi...
ReplyDeleteVor Angela Merkels Besuch in der Ukraine verschärft sich die Tonlage. Deutschland und die USA kritisieren das Eindringen der russischen Fahrzeuge in fremdes Gebiet. Aber die Lastwagen sind unterwegs.
US-Präsident Barack Obama und Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel haben den Rückzug des russischen Hilfskonvois in der Ukraine gefordert. Das Eindringen der Fahrzeugkolonne ohne Einwilligung Kiews stelle eine weitere Provokation Moskaus dar, die die Souveränität der Ukraine verletze, erklärten Obama und Merkel laut dem Weißen Haus am Freitag in einem Telefonat.
Auch die Präsenz russischer Soldaten im Nachbarland, das Zusammenziehen von Truppen entlang der gemeinsamen Grenze und der russische Beschuss von Zielen in der Ukraine hätten gefährliche Eskalationen der Spannungen nach sich gezogen.
Mit der Begründung, dass die notleidende Bevölkerung in umkämpften Gebieten der Ostukraine nicht länger warten könne, hatte Moskau am Freitag mehr als 130 Lastwagen seines Hilfskonvois über die Grenze geschickt.................http://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article131520141/Merkel-und-Obama-fordern-Rueckzug-von-Russen-Konvoi.html
23/8/14
Merkel: Konvoi muss nach Entladung sofort zurückfahren...
ReplyDeleteKurz vor ihrem Besuch in Kiew hat sich die Kanzlerin telefonisch mit Obama abgestimmt. Der Konvoi müsse die Ukraine nach der Entladung verlassen, fordert Merkel. Bei einer Dringlichkeitssitzung des Sicherheitsrates verteidigte Russland seine Maßnahme.................http://www.faz.net/aktuell/merkel-lkw-muessen-ukraine-wieder-verlassen-13112682.html
23/8/14
El convoy humanitario ruso abandona el territorio ucraniano...
ReplyDeleteEl convoy humanitario ruso que entró este viernes en Ucrania para entregar la ayuda en Lugansk, ya ha cruzado la frontera y está de vuelta en Rusia, informó el Servicio Fronterizo de Rusia.
Todos los camiones Kamaz han cruzando el puesto de control fronterizo Izvárino y se han sometido a la inspección fronteriza y aduanera en territorio ucraniano.
La agencia RIA Novosti indicó que hay informaciones de que a la entrada de Lugansk el convoy ruso fue atacado con morteros desde la zona ocupada por las fuerzas militares de Kiev.............Texto completo en: http://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/view/138066-camiones-convoy-humanitario-rusia-ucrania?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=actualidad
23/8/14
The first trucks from the Russian humanitarian convoy left the Ukrainian territory on Saturday morning....
ReplyDeleteSeveral dozens of Russian trucks left Ukraine’s border crossing “Izvarino” and are going through customs inspections at Russia’s border crossing “Donetsk,” according to RIA Novosti reporter.
On August 14, the trucks with Russian humanitarian aid arrived at the border, but Ukraine began customs clearance only on August 21.
ICRC Head of Operations for Europe and Central Asia Laurent Corbaz said Thursday he regretted that the Ukrainian customs service failed to inspect the Russian humanitarian cargo in a timely fashion, thus delaying the humanitarian mission...................http://en.ria.ru/world/20140823/192269957/First-Trucks-From-Russian-Humanitarian-Convoy-Leave-Ukraine.html
23/8/14
Merkel to visit as Russian convoy returns...
ReplyDeleteGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to arrive in Ukraine, a day after calling Russia's decision to send an unauthorised aid convoy there a "dangerous escalation".
More than 100 Russian lorries entered eastern Ukraine on Friday, without permission from Ukraine's government.
After travelling to besieged rebel-held areas, some of the lorries have now begun crossing back into Russia.
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.
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................http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28910215
23/8/14