Tension in the region has increased drastically into new level as Russian-aided convoy entered eastern Ukraine without permission from the Ukrainian government, which they describe as a “direct invasion.”
According to NATO reports, Russian troops fired against Ukrainian forces inside the their territory, an area which is controlled by the rebels. It entered without the permission from either the Ukraine government or the participation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
“Russian artillery support — both cross-border and from within Ukraine — is being employed against the Ukrainian armed forces,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement alleging Moscow of “blatant breach of Russia’s international commitments,” intensifying and fueling tension it has created in the region, The Washington Post reported.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”–Rasmussen”]
The disregard of international humanitarian principles raises further questions about whether the true purpose of the aid convoy is to support civilians or to resupply armed separatists.
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The move to deploy more than 200 aid trucks was criticized by the West, particularly the U.S. and Europe and asked them to withdraw as it is a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, BBC reported.
However, Russia’s Foreign Ministry denied it fired weapons inside Ukraine and said further “delays” and “excuses” are unacceptable. It also accused Ukraine’s leaders of deliberately slowing down the delivery of aid until “there is no one at all to provide help to.”
The first batch of aid already reached the war-torn city of Luhansk, which is also controlled by pro-Russian rebels.
The U.N. Security Council has called on an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.
