Germany floats a trial balloon...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/23/us-ukraine-crisis-germany-gabriel-idUSKBN0GN08X20140823
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-23/ukraine-humanitarian-aid-convoy-returns-russia
( Russia gives " Fogh " of War Rusmussen a sly backhand ! )
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 08/23/2014 10:20 -0400
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/08/russian-aid-trucks-begin-leaving-ukraine-2014823833162998.html
****
****
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/746351
Vineyard of the Saker.....
Reports out of Russia say that part of the convoy arrived in the sieged border city of Luhansk, setting up aid centers across the city, delivering food, water, medication, and even some electrical generators to the city. The rest is headed further south, to the largest city of Donetsk.
Russia sent humanitarian aid intoeastern Ukraine today,complaining that Ukraine had kept them stuck in customs for too long. The Ukrainian government termed the shipments of food and medicine a “direct invasion.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/23/us-ukraine-crisis-germany-gabriel-idUSKBN0GN08X20140823
Germany's vice-chancellor backs 'federalization' in Ukraine
BERLIN
(Reuters) - Germany's vice chancellor has spoken out for a "federalization" of Ukraine once fighting between Ukrainian and Russian separatist forces in the eastern part of the country has ended.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said, however, that Sigmar Gabriel meant decentralisation.
His comments raised eyebrows because of his use of the word federalization, which is a sensitive term in Ukraine.
In an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper released on the same day that Merkel visited Kiev for talks on ending the crisis, Gabriel said the priority was to stop a direct military confrontation between Ukraine and Russia.
"Beyond that, we have to develop an idea about the reconciliation process that could be introduced after the end of the military conflict in East Ukraine," said Gabriel, leader of the Social Democrats who share power with Merkel's conservatives. Gabriel is also EconomyMinister.
"The territorial integrity of Ukraine can only be maintained if an offer is made to the areas with a Russian majority," Gabriel was quoted as saying.
"A clever concept of federalization seem to be the only practicable way," he said, adding that a ceasefire was the first step and that still appeared to be a long way away.
****http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-23/ukraine-humanitarian-aid-convoy-returns-russia
( Russia gives " Fogh " of War Rusmussen a sly backhand ! )
Ukraine Humanitarian Aid Convoy Returns To Russia
So much ado for nothing.
Following nearly 2 weeks of artificial tension and fake selloffs that brought the S&P within a fraction of 2000 only for Yellen to "not be Dovish" enough and spoil the party, with the first red Jackson Hole close in 5 years, the Russian "humanitarian" convoy which theobjective media led everyone to believe was a Trojan horse just itching to launch a war in Ukraine, has left Ukraine after delivering its cargo.
According to Reuters, a total of 184 vehicles from the Russian aid convoy which approached the Ukraine border on August 14 and only crossed into Ukraine on Friday "without permission", in a move which Ukraine first derided as a Direct Invasion then once again quickly changed its tune and admitted it had given it permission to enter to "avoid confrontations" have returned to Russia, citing a Ukrainian military spokesman said.
"According to our information as of 1 p.m. (1000 GMT), the departure from the territory of Ukraine by 184 Russian vehicles has been confirmed," the spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, told Reuters.He said they had left through the same crossing point by which they had entered via the Ukrainian border settlement of Izvaryne. No checks by Ukrainian border guards or customs officers had taken place.Asked how many Russian vehicles still remained in Ukraine, he replied: "I don't know."
Nothing quite like being on top of things: perhaps the CIA is no longer sharing its data with the Kiev regime?
Furthermore, considering Ukraine's government has been in a constant state of propaganda dissemination from the beginning, a matching and probably more credible source of information in this disinformation war is the Russian foreign ministry, which confirmed that the humanitarian aid has been delivered to the besieged city of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile all trucks that delivered aid had returned to Russia.
“We express our satisfaction that the Russian humanitarian aid for those in need in southeastern Ukraine has been delivered as intended. We were motivated only by the goal of helping civilian citizens in need,” the statement read.
All trucks have returned empty, Ukrainian and Russian border guards confirmed, Russian Deputy Emergency Minister Eduard Chizhikov said.
“There were 227 trucks in the humanitarian operation participating in the operation, and they have all returned. All those vehicles have been searched by the representatives of the customs and border control, both on the Ukrainian and Russian side. No issues have been pointed out. All vehicles were empty upon returning, and the media representatives checked that, too, while they were filming the search,” Chizhikov stated.
But the endless drama...
The Foreign Ministry also said that they were “getting a lot of feedback from the residents of Lugansk, who were thankful for such a good attitude from the Russian part.”
****
And perhaps in even more amusing news, Russia not only reacted to the latest "lie" out of NATO's Rasmussen, hell bent on finding the pretext to deliver even more NATO forces on the border with Russia, but said that it no longer pays attention to what he says:
Russia’s Defense Ministry has denied “another portion of accusations” by representatives of NATO against Russia. The latest claims include allegations that Russia directly involved its military and heavy weaponry in fighting on the Ukrainian territory.“We’ve stopped paying attention to Mr. Rasmussen’s empty talk and his press secretary. There is no point commenting on them. There is no proof there except Twitter,” official representative of Russia’s Defense Ministry Igor Konashenkov stated.“I would like to remind you that the official powers of Mr. Rasmussen ended on July 31, and today he’s acting not so much for the alliance, but as the organizer of the September 4 NATO summit in Wales. We understand that his prospects will depend on the promotion of that event,” the statement also said.
This is the same NATO that condemned the delivery of aid to a population stuck in the middle of the Ukraine civil war, which according to the red cross itself said was living in abysmal conditions, without water or power. The same population that once again just got that much closer to aligning with Russia in lieu of a Kiev government that has declared war on it. Lugansk residents have already expressed hope that Russia will provide more humanitarian aid in the future, first vice premier of the Lugansk People’s Republic Vasily Nikitin told RIA Novosti. “We don’t have any food left, and we hope that Russia won’t leave us in this situation and these humanitarian convoys containing food will become commonplace. We hope for the help, and we need it,” Nikitin stated.
The simplest way this would happen, of course, is when the Donetsk republic follows in the steps of Crimea is annexed by Russia. However, with massive shale gas deposits located under the region, and with Hunter Biden director of a company that is quite eager to extract said shale gas, there is no way this region is going without a fight, one in which NATO is a key member.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/08/russian-aid-trucks-begin-leaving-ukraine-2014823833162998.html
All Russian aid vehicles 'leave' Ukraine |
European monitors say all trucks crossed into Russia as German Chancellor Merkel arrives in Kiev for crisis talks.
Last updated: 23 Aug 2014 11:39
|
Over 200 vehicles said to be loaded with tinned food and bottle water crossed into Ukraine on Friday [Reuters]
|
| A Russian aid convoy, which has escalated further tensions between the West and Russia, has returned from rebel-held eastern Ukraine to Russian territory, observers of OSCE, the Vienna-based rights and security organisation, have said. A storm of anger was expressed by Western capitals after the convoy entered Ukraine on Friday without the permission of the Ukraine government in a move Kiev called "invasion". The development comes as German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Kiev to push for a ceasefire between pro-Russia fighters and Ukraine. The return of the convoy "is complete", the acting head of the OSCE mission observing the Russian border crossing close to Donetsk, Paul Picard, told AFP news agency. "We have counted 220 vehicles returning today" plus the seven support vehicles that returned on Friday, said Picard. The OSCE said that only 227 vehicles had crossed the border, while Russian authorities had previously said the convoy consisted of around 280 lorries. Ukrainian spokesman Andriy Lysenko confirmed departure of 184 vehicles earlier in the day. "According to our information as of 1pm (10:00GMT), the departure from the territory of Ukraine by 184 Russian vehicles has been confirmed," he told Reuters news agency. Kiev had expressed repeated fears that Russia may be using the vehicles to smuggle in weapons to pro-Kremlin rebels, a charge denied by Russia. Merkel and Obama's warning  Russia says the convoy that entered Ukraine on Friday is for humanitarian purposes, but Ukraine, the US and other Western powers say the Russians failed to abide by conditions set by Ukraine and the International Red Cross (IRC). Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador, said that Moscow "waited long enough and it was time to move". However, Valentyn Nalivaychenko, Ukraine's state security chief, said: "We consider this a direct invasion by Russia of Ukraine." Merkel will hold talks with President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday, three days ahead of the first meeting in months between Poroshenko and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Minsk alongside top EU officials. Merkel recently said that the main goal of her planned trip to Ukraine was to help secure a ceasefire, reiterating that there could be no military solution to the crisis. The Ukrainian president has pledged to "talk peace" with Russia, but insists that an end to the conflict that has cost more than 2,200 lives can be achieved only if pro-Kremlin fighters are pulled out of Ukrainian territory. Russia Today.... Mission completed: Moscow confirms delivery of aid to E. Ukraine, trucks return to Russia
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed humanitarian aid has been delivered to the besieged city of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile all trucks that delivered aid had returned to Russia.
“We express our satisfaction that the Russian humanitarian aid for those in need in southeastern Ukrainian south-east has been delivered as intended. We were motivated only by the goal of helping civilian citizens in need,” the statement read.
The Foreign Ministry also said that they were “getting a lot of feedback from the residents of Lugansk, who were thankful for such a good attitude from the Russian part.”
It also underlined that the Russian representatives of the Red Cross were in close cooperation with the leadership and employees of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), and the ICRC has proved to be “a responsible partner.”
|
****
All trucks have returned empty, Ukrainian and Russian border guards confirmed, Russian Deputy Emergency Minister Eduard Chizhikov said.
“There were 227 trucks in the humanitarian operation participating in the operation, and they have all returned. All those vehicles have been searched by the representatives of the customs and border control, both on the Ukrainian and Russian side. No issues have been pointed out. All vehicles were empty upon returning, and the media representatives checked that, too, while they were filming the search,” Chizhikov stated.
The ICRC has expressed its readiness to help with the distribution of aid across the regions in need.
The Ministry has also reacted to the comment of NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen that the humanitarian convoy entered Ukraine without consent from the authorities in Kiev and ICRC involvement, describing his words as “another lie.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed “the intention to continue cooperation with the ICRC in the efforts to provide the humanitarian aid for the residents of southeastern Ukraine.”
Lugansk residents have already expressed hope that Russia will provide more humanitarian aid in the future, first vice premier of the Lugansk People’s Republic Vasily Nikitin told RIA Novosti.
“We don’t have any food left, and we hope that Russia won’t leave us in this situation and these humanitarian convoys containing food will become commonplace. We hope for the help, and we need it,” Nikitin stated.
****
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/746351
UN SC discussion on Ukraine looked like Kingdom of Curved Mirrors - Churkin
August 23, 8:31 UTC+4
Churkin explained that Russia was keeping in touch with the Ukrainian authorities and hoped that there would be no problems with the delivery of humanitarian aid to its destination
Churkin explained that Russia was keeping in touch with the Ukrainian authorities and hoped that there would be no problems with the delivery of humanitarian aid to its destination
UNITED NATIONS, August 23, 7:03 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin has likened Friday evening’s discussion on the situation in Ukraine to what he described as a Kingdom of Curved Mirrors. He explained he got this impression because some SC members looked worried not so much about the humanitarian disaster in the east of the country as the Russian truck convoy that had delivered humanitarian aid to Lugansk.
“What was happening in the UN Security Council reminded me of a Kingdom of Curved Mirrors, because some members did not care at all civilians were dying in the east of Ukraine. Nor did they care about the humanitarian disaster there. They were mostly alarmed by Russia’s humanitarian aid being delivered to people in the line of fire,” the diplomat said.
Churkin explained that Russia was keeping in touch with the Ukrainian authorities and hoped that there would be no problems with the delivery of humanitarian aid to its destination.
“After that discussion the tensions in the Security Council over the issue eased somewhat,” Churkin said.
He addressed the SC members with a fresh reminder that Russia had dispatched humanitarian aid to eastern Ukraine only when it had official consent from that country’s government.
“As far as reproaches about respect for sovereignty are concerned, I can say once again that we received official consent from them. We discussed that issue. If they deceived us, it is their problem. We just wish to give help to those who need it,” Churkin said.
According to the Russian diplomat, during the just-held discussion he recalled that the Security Council last July voted for Resolution 2165, which authorized direct supplies of humanitarian assistance to Syria without the country’s government.
“It was something new from the legal standpoint and it cannot but be borne in mind. As for Ukraine, it can well be said that we have the government’s consent,” the diplomat added.
He said that some UN SC members, including China and Latin American countries, responded with understanding to the Russian position.
Vineyard of the Saker.....
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014
The significance of the Russian decision to move the humanitarian convoy into Novorussia
It appears that the Russians got tired of waiting. I suggest that you all carefully parse the Statement of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs I posted earlier today. This is an interesting document because besides an explanation of the Russian decision to move it, it is also, potentially, a legal defense or an unprecedented Russian decision: to overtly violate the Ukrainian sovereignty. Let me explain.
First, the case of Crimea was also a "special case". The Russian were legally present there and, in the Russian rationale, all the "Polite Armed Men in Green" did was to protect the local population to make it possible for the latter to freely express its will. Only after that will was expressed did Russia agree to formally re-incorporate Crimea into Russia. So from the legal Russian point of view, none of the Russian actions in Crimea included any form of violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. I know, most western analyst will not agree, but that is the official Russian stance. And official stances are important because they form the basis for a legal argument.
Second, the aid which Russia has been sending to Novorussia has been exclusively covert. Covert operations, no matter their magnitude, do not form the basis for a legal position. The official position of Moscow has been that not only was there absolutely no military aid to Novorussia, but even when Ukie artillery shells landed inside Russia did the Kremlin authorize any retaliation, again in (official) deference to the Ukrainian national sovereignty.
This time, however, there is no doubt at all that the Russians did deliberately and officially chose to ignore Kiev and move in. Now, in fact, in reality, this is clearly the logically, politically and morally right thing to do. But in legal terms, this clearly a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. From a legal point of view, the Ukies had the right to keep the Russian convoy at the border for another 10'000 years if they wanted and Russia had no legal right to simply move in. What apparently happened this morning is that the Ukie officials did not even bother showing up, so the Kremlin just said "forget it!" and ordered the trucks in.
Not only did the Russians move in, but they did that without the ICRC whose personnel refused to go because of the lack of security guarantees from Kiev. The Russian response to that lack of security guarantees was a) to order this unarmed convoy in and b) to clearly state in the official statement:
The US and their main agent in Kiev, Nalivaichenko, immediately and correctly understood the threat: not only did this convoy bring much needed humanitarian aid to Lugansk, it also provided a fantastic political and legal "cover" for future Russian actions inside Novorussia. And by "actions" I don't necessarily mean military actions, although that is now clearly and officially possible. I also mean legal actions such as recognizing Novorussia. From their point of view, Obama, Poroshenko, Nalivaichenko are absolutely correct to be enraged, because I bet you that the timing, context and manner in which Russia moved into Novorussia will not result in further sanctions or political consequences. Russia has now officially declared the Ukie national sovereignty as "over" and the EU will probably not do anything meaningful about it.
That, by itself, is a nightmare for Uncle Sam.
Furthermore, I expect the Russian to act with a great deal of restraint. It would be stupid for them to say "okay, now that we violated the territorial integrity of the Ukraine and ignored its sovereignty we might as well bomb the junta forces and move our troops in". I am quite confident that they will not do that. Yet. For the Russian side, the best thing to do now is to wait. First, the convoy will really help. Second, it will become a headache for the Ukies (bombing this convey would not look very good). Third, this convoy will buy enough time for the situation to become far clearer. What am I referring to here?
The Ukie plan has been to present some major "victory" for the Sunday the 24, when they plan a victory parade in Kiev to celebrate independence day (yup, the US-controlled and Nazi-administered "Banderastan" will celebrate its "independence"... this is both sad and hilarious). Instead, what they have a long streak of *very* nasty defeats during the past 5-6 days or so. By all accounts, the Ukies are getting butchered and, for the first time, even pushed back (if only on a tactical level). That convoy in Luganks will add a stinging symbolical "f**k you!" to the junta in Kiev. It will also exacerbate the tensions between the ruling clique in power, the Right Sector and Dmitri Iarosh and the growing protest movement in western Ukraine.
Bottom line: this is a risky move no doubt, probably brought about by the realization that with water running out in Luganks Putin had to act. Still it is also an absolutely brilliant move which will create a massive headache for the US and its Nazi puppets in Kiev.
The Saker
PS: I heard yesterday evening that Holland has officially announced that it will not release the full info of the flight data and voice recorders of MH17. Thus Holland has now become an official accomplice to the cover-up of this US false-flag operation and to the murder of the passengers of MH17. This is absolutely outrageous and disgusting I and sure hope that the Malaysian government will not allow this. As for Kiev, it is also sitting on the recording of the communications between the Kiev ATC and MH17. Finally, the USA has it all through its own signals intelligence capabilities. So they all know and they are all covering up. Under the circumstances, can anybody still seriously doubt "who done it"?
First, the case of Crimea was also a "special case". The Russian were legally present there and, in the Russian rationale, all the "Polite Armed Men in Green" did was to protect the local population to make it possible for the latter to freely express its will. Only after that will was expressed did Russia agree to formally re-incorporate Crimea into Russia. So from the legal Russian point of view, none of the Russian actions in Crimea included any form of violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. I know, most western analyst will not agree, but that is the official Russian stance. And official stances are important because they form the basis for a legal argument.
Second, the aid which Russia has been sending to Novorussia has been exclusively covert. Covert operations, no matter their magnitude, do not form the basis for a legal position. The official position of Moscow has been that not only was there absolutely no military aid to Novorussia, but even when Ukie artillery shells landed inside Russia did the Kremlin authorize any retaliation, again in (official) deference to the Ukrainian national sovereignty.
This time, however, there is no doubt at all that the Russians did deliberately and officially chose to ignore Kiev and move in. Now, in fact, in reality, this is clearly the logically, politically and morally right thing to do. But in legal terms, this clearly a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. From a legal point of view, the Ukies had the right to keep the Russian convoy at the border for another 10'000 years if they wanted and Russia had no legal right to simply move in. What apparently happened this morning is that the Ukie officials did not even bother showing up, so the Kremlin just said "forget it!" and ordered the trucks in.
Not only did the Russians move in, but they did that without the ICRC whose personnel refused to go because of the lack of security guarantees from Kiev. The Russian response to that lack of security guarantees was a) to order this unarmed convoy in and b) to clearly state in the official statement:
We are warning against any attempts to thwart this purely humanitarian mission which took a long time to prepare in conditions of complete transparency and cooperation with the Ukrainian side and the ICRC. Those who are ready to continue sacrificing human lives to their own ambitions and geopolitical designs and who are rudely trampling on the norms and principles of international humanitarian law will assume complete responsibility for the possible consequences of provocations against the humanitarian relief convoy.Again, from a logical, political or moral point of view, this is rather self-obvious, but from a legal point of view this is a threat to use force ("complete responsibility for the possible consequences") inside the putatively sovereign territory of the Ukraine.
The US and their main agent in Kiev, Nalivaichenko, immediately and correctly understood the threat: not only did this convoy bring much needed humanitarian aid to Lugansk, it also provided a fantastic political and legal "cover" for future Russian actions inside Novorussia. And by "actions" I don't necessarily mean military actions, although that is now clearly and officially possible. I also mean legal actions such as recognizing Novorussia. From their point of view, Obama, Poroshenko, Nalivaichenko are absolutely correct to be enraged, because I bet you that the timing, context and manner in which Russia moved into Novorussia will not result in further sanctions or political consequences. Russia has now officially declared the Ukie national sovereignty as "over" and the EU will probably not do anything meaningful about it.
That, by itself, is a nightmare for Uncle Sam.
Furthermore, I expect the Russian to act with a great deal of restraint. It would be stupid for them to say "okay, now that we violated the territorial integrity of the Ukraine and ignored its sovereignty we might as well bomb the junta forces and move our troops in". I am quite confident that they will not do that. Yet. For the Russian side, the best thing to do now is to wait. First, the convoy will really help. Second, it will become a headache for the Ukies (bombing this convey would not look very good). Third, this convoy will buy enough time for the situation to become far clearer. What am I referring to here?
The Ukie plan has been to present some major "victory" for the Sunday the 24, when they plan a victory parade in Kiev to celebrate independence day (yup, the US-controlled and Nazi-administered "Banderastan" will celebrate its "independence"... this is both sad and hilarious). Instead, what they have a long streak of *very* nasty defeats during the past 5-6 days or so. By all accounts, the Ukies are getting butchered and, for the first time, even pushed back (if only on a tactical level). That convoy in Luganks will add a stinging symbolical "f**k you!" to the junta in Kiev. It will also exacerbate the tensions between the ruling clique in power, the Right Sector and Dmitri Iarosh and the growing protest movement in western Ukraine.
Bottom line: this is a risky move no doubt, probably brought about by the realization that with water running out in Luganks Putin had to act. Still it is also an absolutely brilliant move which will create a massive headache for the US and its Nazi puppets in Kiev.
The Saker
PS: I heard yesterday evening that Holland has officially announced that it will not release the full info of the flight data and voice recorders of MH17. Thus Holland has now become an official accomplice to the cover-up of this US false-flag operation and to the murder of the passengers of MH17. This is absolutely outrageous and disgusting I and sure hope that the Malaysian government will not allow this. As for Kiev, it is also sitting on the recording of the communications between the Kiev ATC and MH17. Finally, the USA has it all through its own signals intelligence capabilities. So they all know and they are all covering up. Under the circumstances, can anybody still seriously doubt "who done it"?
Zero Hedge....
White House Accuses Russia Of Painting Military Vehicles White; Merkel Agrees "Actions Represent Dangerous Escalation"
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 08/22/2014 - 19:53
With no Instagram #selfie image or YouTube clip as proof (yet), The White House issued a statement proclaiming that today, in violation of its previous commitments and international law, Russian military vehicles painted to look like civilian trucks forced their way into Ukraine... and that 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. Furthermore, the actions "only amplifies international concerns about Russia’s true intentions...for which it will bear additional consequences." If that sternly-worded email was not enough, President Obam took time away from the course on Martha's Vineyard to chat with Angela Merkel and then issued a joint statement somewhat sheepishly noting that this is "further provocation" and represents a "dangerous escalation."
Anti War....
Ukraine Cries ‘Invasion’ as Russian Humanitarian Aid Trucks Reach Luhansk
US Denounces Humanitarian Aid as 'Flagrant' Violation of Sovereignty
by Jason Ditz, August 22, 2014
Claiming the Ukrainian government was deliberately dragging out the delivery of 280 trucks full of humanitarian aid, stalled in customs at the border with Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the convoy to go in irrespective of Ukraine’s wishes, and deliver aid to the civilians trapped in the eastern Ukraine warzone.
Reports out of Russia say that part of the convoy arrived in the sieged border city of Luhansk, setting up aid centers across the city, delivering food, water, medication, and even some electrical generators to the city. The rest is headed further south, to the largest city of Donetsk.
The Ukrainian government is calling the deployment of the humanitarian aid a “direct invasion” by Russia, and is demanding an immediate withdrawal of all the trucks as well as all of the supplies they brought in.
Ukraine initially made a deal with the Red Cross to bring aid in weeks ago, but reneged with the Red Cross made a deal with Russia to provide much of it. Since then, the Red Cross had been trying to work out a deal to bring the aid in themselves, but were not able to get Ukraine’s assurances that their aid trucks wouldn’t be attacked.
The US angrily condemned the Russian aid shipment, declaring the dispatch of food and medicine a “flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty,” and threatening new sanctions on Russia if the aid isn’t withdrawn immediately.
Russia’s UN Ambassador lashed Ukraine over the delay, accusing them of playing politics with the aid, and saying that with no chain of command in Ukraine to work with Russia had no choice but to send the aid in unilaterally. Ambassador Churkin also criticized Lithuania, the member of the UN Security Council which called an “emergency meeting” today over the aid shipment.
Britain claimed that no member of the UN Security Council supported the Russian move, though Russia says China has backed the decision, owing to the delays, and also got expressions of support from unnamed Latin American members.
NATO Reiterates Claims of ‘Alarming’ Russia Build-up Near Ukraine
NATO Chief: Russian Aid a Violation of International Commitments
by Jason Ditz, August 22, 2014
Hardly a day goes by when some NATO official isn’t hyping a Russian military build-up along the Ukrainian border. Today, the honors go to Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who termed the build-up “alarming” in light of Russia’s dispatch of humanitarian aid into eastern Ukraine.
Russia sent humanitarian aid intoeastern Ukraine today,complaining that Ukraine had kept them stuck in customs for too long. The Ukrainian government termed the shipments of food and medicine a “direct invasion.”
NATO seems to be backing that position, with Rasmussen insisting Russia’s shipment’s are a “blatant breach of Russia’s international commitments,” and Ukrainian sovereignty. He also claimed shipping aid was ‘escalating” the situation.
NATO has been backing the Ukrainian war against eastern rebels loudly from the beginning, and treating every Russian call for a ceasefire as “interference.” They have been building up military forces across Eastern Europe, nominally to defend them from a Russian invasion, though the invasion has been predicted by Rasmussen et al. for months, and never actually happened.
http://rt.com/news/eastern-ukraine-army-operation-680/
Saturday, August 23
01:18 GMT:
Around 200 trucks carrying Russian humanitarian aid have crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border at the Donetsk checkpoint on Friday evening, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) observers reported.
The convoy was accompanied by about 30 other vehicles, including ambulances, fuel trucks and construction vehicle, of which six have returned.
Overall, the Russian humanitarian convoy is made up of 280 trucks, according to RIA Novosti.
Friday, August 22
22:55 GMT:
EU is shocked with the kidnapping and killing of Lithuania’s honorary consul Nikolay Zelenec in Lugansk, EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
Ashton blamed illegal armed groups for the diplomat's death and called to bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to Ashton, the incident should become a wake-up call to stop the violence in eastern Ukraine and take all the necessary steps for de-escalation of the crisis.
Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevicius, reported on Zelenec’s murder on his Twitter account on Friday.
22:44 GMT:
Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin described Friday’s UN Security Council meeting on Russian humanitarian convoy for eastern Ukraine as “the kingdom of crooked mirrors.”
“What happened at the UNSC meeting reminded me of the kingdom of crooked mirrors because some of the members were not interested in the fact that innocent people are dying in the east of Ukraine, they were not interested that there is a humanitarian catastrophe there, instead they were worried about the fact that Russia is providing humanitarian help to those who are being shot at,” Churkin said.
Churkin added that Russia is in contact with Ukrainian authorities and hopes that “there will be no problem with the humanitarian aid and its delivery.”
Churkin reminded all the members that Kiev itself agreed to allow the humanitarian aid through on August 12.
“As for the reproaches concerning respect of sovereignty, then, again, we received their formal consent, we have discussed this question with them, and if they decided to lie, it’s their problem. We want to help those in need,” said Churkin. “After some discussions, the situation regarding this topic has calmed down in the UNSC,” he said.
22:11 GMT:
Ukrainian border officials are not in control of more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of state border in eastern Ukraine, including the area around Izvarino, located in Lugansk region, Ukraine’s Deputy Head of the State Border Service of Ukraine, Pavel Shisholin, told the country’s Channel One.
Border guards patrolling near Izvarino left the area after 21 days of defense and blockade, Shisholin said, adding that 7 guards were injured, two of them critically.
21:39 GMT:
Ukrainian army’s strikes hit and damaged residential buildings in Donetsk’s Petrovskiy district early on Saturday, killing at least one civilian, Interfax reported citing self-defense forces.
Kiev troops used rocket launcher Grad and mortars. Local market was set on fire during the attack.
Earlier, Ukraine's National Security Council spokesman, Andrey Lysenko, said Ukrainian army is carrying out assaults in Donetsk, Shakhtersk, Torez, and Zugres.
21:09 GMT:
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it is ready to help the people of Lugansk. “Our team in Lugansk says people need water, food, medicine,” ICRC wrote on its Twitter account. “We are ready to help Ukraine. We encourage both Ukraine and Russia to respect the neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian action of the ICRC.”
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