US seeks clarification from Russia on its 'humanitarian convoy' in Ukraine

Washington: The United States has sought clarification from Russia on its “humanitarian convoy” in Ukraine and stated that the escalation in Russian activity designed to destabilise the war-torn nation is dangerous and provocative. In a telephonic conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Shoygu, the US Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, “requested clarification regarding” the Russian humanitarian convoy in Ukraine, the Pentagon said in a readout of the call. “Shoygu “guaranteed” that there were no Russian military personnel involved in the humanitarian convoy, nor was the convoy to be used as a pretext to further intervene in Ukraine,” the Pentagon said. “He acknowledged that the goods would be delivered and distributed under the International Committee of the Red Cross,” the statement said adding that Shoygu assured Hagel that Russia was meeting Ukraine’s conditions. Responding to reports of Russian armored military column in Ukraine, the White House said it is working to gather more information regarding reports that Ukraine’s security forces disabled vehicles in a Russian military convoy inside Ukraine. “We are not currently in a position to confirm these reports. Even as we work to gather information, we reiterate our concern about repeated Russian and Russian-supported incursions into Ukraine,” Caitlin Hayden, Spokesperson of the National Security Council said. “Russia has no right to send vehicles, persons, or cargo of any kind into Ukraine, under any pretext, without the Government of Ukraine’s permission,” Hayden added. “The escalation in Russian activity designed to destabilise Ukraine in recent weeks is extremely dangerous and provocative. It includes supplying separatist fighters with tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and multiple rocket launchers (MRLs),” Hayden said in a statement. “Russia has also been firing artillery and rockets from Russian territory into Ukraine on a regular basis, and has been moving multiple-rocket launchers (MRLs) and surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs) across the border to fire on Ukrainian positions – including its newest air defense systems, the SA-22, into eastern Ukraine,” she said. [caption id=“attachment_1568559” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Armed pro-Russian separatists walk past a shop at a town center in Snizhnye in eastern Ukraine. Reuters[/caption] Referring to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin’s, pledge on Thursday to “do everything in (Russia’s) power” to end the conflict in Ukraine, Hayden said, “He can start by ending Russian firing into Ukraine; stopping its supply of weapons, support and cash to separatists; and closing the border to militants, including by facilitating an effective border monitoring mission under the auspices of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)”. “The US strongly supports efforts to provide humanitarian support to Luhansk through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), provided that all conditions and modalities set forth by the ICRC and the Ukrainian government are agreed and strictly adhered to by all parties,” she said. “The continued Russian military intervention into Ukraine is entirely at odds with legitimate efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and negotiate a peaceful resolution to the overall crisis,” Hayden said. In a statement, Republican Senator, Marco Rubio, said Russia’s “continued unlawful incursions” into Ukraine are further evidence of Vladimir Putin’s malicious plan for usurping large portions of Ukrainian territory. “Russia continues to provide illicit arms and other lethal material to separatist rebels in Eastern Ukraine, and recent attempts to utilize “humanitarian convoys” to transport troops and military supplies into Ukraine have only escalated this conflict,” Rubio said. This slow motion invasion of Ukraine by Russia is abhorrent and the United States and Europe need to renew our support for the Ukrainian government," he added. Rubio also said that the approach of the US President, Barack Obama to this situation has failed to deter Putin from once again invading a sovereign country. “The Obama Administration should stop dithering and immediately deliver lethal assistance that has long been requested by the Ukrainian government. Along with our European allies, the US should quickly impose additional sanctions to effect the Russian economy, targeting all transactions with key Russian sectors, including energy,” he said. “Europe and America need to move expeditiously to begin to stem Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. This is a long term project, but Putin’s goals are now more clear than ever and drastic action will be necessary to strip Putin of his ability to intimidate Europe,” Rubio said. PTI