A Russian convoy
of 280 trucks headed for eastern Ukraine Tuesday carrying "humanitarian
supplies" for the people of conflict-torn region, Russian news agencies
reported.
"The convoy will
bring to residents of eastern Ukraine 2,000 tonnes of humanitarian
supplies collected by residents of Moscow and its surroundings," a
Moscow region official told the Ria Novosti agency.
Russia
said Monday it would dispatch a humanitarian convoy to conflict-torn
east Ukraine despite fierce warnings from the West that Moscow not act
alone as a cover for sending in troops.
Russia
insisted its military would not be involved in the convoy, but Kiev
said Moscow could only play a role as part of a broader Red Cross
mission.
France warned on
Tuesday that any Russian humanitarian aid convoy could be a pretext for a
covert operation and stressed that Ukraine and the Red Cross must first
give the green light to the mission.
Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius told French radio that such missions were "only
possible with the agreement of the country to which you are sending aid
and with the assistance of the Red Cross."
"This
question has of course not yet been settled. We have to be extremely
careful because this could be a cover by the Russians to set themselves
up near Donetsk and Lugansk and declare a fait accompli," added Fabius.
