Russian Convoy Approaches Ukraine

The Russian convoy, claimed to be carrying humanitarian aid. Photo: AP.

A huge convoy of Russian trucks is en route to the Ukrainian border. The Red Cross denies making any deal regarding the 280-truck convoy, which Russia claims is carrying humanitarian supplies. Ukraine says it will deny the Russian vehicles entry, and that any aid should be handed over to Ukrainian authorities at the border.

There have been agreements on humanitarian aid from Russia to Ukrainian civilians in Luhansk, but the exact details of the aid are meant to be enumerated to the Red Cross before shipment. This has not happened. The Russian media has released details, but none appear to have been given directly to the Red Cross at this point. At absolute minimum, the decision to send the convoy is extremely premature.

At worst, western observers fear that the convoy may be a pretext for Russian troops to formally enter eastern Ukraine. The convoy accompanies a massive build-up of Russian troops on the border, which Ukrainian authorities now claim to number 45,000, more than doubling earlier NATO estimates of 20,000. It’s possible that the larger number refers to a larger region, but if it indicates the same area, and the number is accurate, it indicates a sudden, dramatic increase of forces and possible preparations for invasion.

A recent U.N. decision (see 'Syria') to send humanitarian aid into Syria without the Assad government’s permission has created a precedent for Russia to supply aid without Ukraine’s permission. It remains to be seen whether or not that event will be invoked to justify intervention.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28751447

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11027559/Russia-sends-280-trucks-with-humanitarian-aid-to-Ukraine.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/13/world/europe/russian-convoy-leaves-moscow-for-ukraine-bearing-aid.html
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/12/russian-aid-convoy-ukraine-humanitarian
http://www.dw.de/ukraines-avakov-insists-russian-convoy-wont-be-allowed-in/a-17849138