Kerry: Agreed With Russia to Exchange Information on Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. and Russia have agreed to exchange information about developments in Ukraine.
Kerry told reporters at the APEC gathering in Beijing Saturday that despite disagreements on some facts about what is happening in Ukraine, Washington and Moscow will exchange some information "regarding that."
Concerning sanctions against Russia, the top U.S. diplomat said choices Moscow makes on Ukraine "will decide what happens...in the long run."  He also expressed his desire that a cease-fire agreement between Kyiv and pro-Russian rebels entrenched along Ukraine's eastern border will remain viable.

Kerry made the comments after a brief meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who avoided reporters' questions about his country's military involvement in Ukraine. 
Lavrov's only comment concerned the cease-fire agreement, saying, "the cease-fire has been signed between the rebels and the government. It's for them to finalize the disengagement line which they are doing right now."
On Friday, NATO said it has seen a large build-up of armored vehicles on the Russian side of the border with Ukraine.
NATO sources said the vehicles appeared to be unmanned. However, a spokesperson said they "represent a potential for significant reinforcements of heavy weapons to the Ukrainian separatists."       
Earlier Friday, Ukraine said Russia had sent dozens of tanks, heavy weapons, ammunition and soldiers into Kremlin-backed eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said in a televised briefing Friday that at least 32 tanks, 16 howitzer artillery systems and 30 trucks loaded with ammunition and fighters from Russia crossed into separatist-held Ukrainian territory Thursday.
"Supplies of military equipment and enemy fighters from the Russian Federation to the anti-terrorist operation zone are continuing," said Lysenko. "In particular, yesterday from the Russian territory in the direction of Krasny Luch town in the Luhansk region. The movement of military equipment consisting of 32 tanks, 16 D30 howitzer artillery systems, and 30 KAMAZ trucks carrying ammunition and fighters was reported.''

• "If confirmed, these actions would be yet another blatant example of Russia's disregard for international law, and further evidence that Russia is not abiding by the commitments it signed up to in the Minsk agreements," Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said in an e-mail to VOA.

Lysenko also said five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and more than a dozen wounded in fighting in the past 24 hours.
U.S. Defense Department spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said Friday that the United States had no independent confirmation that Russian tanks and troops had crossed the border. However, he added, "What we do see is a continued presence of significantly capable and ready battalion tactical groups — Russian battalion tactical groups — right across that border ... and they are doing nothing to decrease the tension in the region."
Ukraine and the West have frequently accused Moscow of backing separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk with arms and troops.
Russia has denied any direct role in the uprising, which has cost more than 4,000 lives since April.
[voanews.com]
8/11/14
--
-
Related:

• Russia e USA spingeranno Kiev a rispettare gli impegni di Ginevra...

• Allegations of Russian Troops Advancing Toward Ukrainian Border Unfounded (Russian Defense Ministry)

• Kyiv: 32 tanks enter Ukraine from Russia ...

• Pentagon cannot confirm reports of alleged Russian military hardware sending to Ukraine ...