Russia and the West were trading warnings on Friday as the convoy carrying aid to the violense-hit areas in Ukraine reached the country’s east.
Russia and the West were trading warnings on Friday as the convoy carrying aid to the violense-hit areas in Ukraine reached the country's east.
President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that further delays in Moscow’s aid convoy to east Ukraine are “unacceptable”. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama and Merkel warn against “dangerous escalation” in Ukraine.
In a phone call with Merkel on Friday, Putin said: “Given the obvious protractions by Kiev on the issue of the delivery of Russian aid to southeast regions of Ukraine, which are suffering a humanitarian catastrophe, a decision was made on sending the convoy. Further delaying it would have been unacceptable.”
The Russian and German leaders also discussed possible steps to stop the fighting between the warring sides in Ukraine as soon as possible, and to establish a political dialogue, RT quoted the Kremlin’s press service as reporting.
The phone call was initiated by Germany on the eve of Merkel’s visit to Kiev on Saturday, RT added.
Meanwhile on Friday, the Russian aid convoy finally reached Lugansk in eastern Ukraine, which has been devastated by repeated shelling. White Kamaz trucks delivered essentials such as food, water, medications, sleeping bags, and electric generators.
Twenty-four aid distribution centers have been set up in the city, 12 of which will open on Saturday morning, RT reported, according to the administration of the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Lugansk.
“Pensioners, families where both parents work in the public sector, refugees who suffered from shelling, the disabled and hospital patients will be the first to receive the aid,” said Oleg Tsaryov, the speaker for the parliament of the Union of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.
On the other hand, Obama and Merkel warned that Russia was triggering a "dangerous escalation" of the conflict in Ukraine due to its military presence and shelling there.
Also in a telephone call on Friday, Obama told Merkel that the conflict "has continued to deteriorate" since a Malaysian airliner was downed last month over rebel-held territory in Ukraine.
Obama and Merkel "agreed that Russia sending a convoy into Ukraine without Ukraine's approval is a further provocation and a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the White House said.
"They expressed concern that the large numbers of Russian troops on the border of Ukraine, the presence of Russian military personnel in Ukraine and Russian shelling of Ukrainian territory represent a dangerous escalation."
The US and German leaders "agreed that it is imperative that Russia remove its convoy from Ukrainian territory, accept the conditions previously agreed to with Ukraine and the International Red Cross for any humanitarian convoys in Ukraine and de-escalate the situation."
The pair urged Russia to remove its troops from the border region, withdraw weapons, vehicles and personnel from Ukrainian territory, and stop the flow of Russian personnel, military equipment and armored vehicles into eastern Ukraine.
"They also stressed the importance of a bilateral ceasefire accompanied by closure of the border and effective border monitoring," the White House added.
