Lithuania cites reports of Russian military equipment crossing into Ukraine

Reuters: 15. August 2014


Russian military hardware on the move.

Lithuania's foreign minister said on Friday he had reports that 70 pieces of Russian military equipment had crossed the border into Ukraine during the night.

Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius

"We are very much concerned about the situation developing (in Ukraine) because, on the one hand, we are talking very much about this so-called humanitarian convoy but, at the same time, we see that escalation continues, and we have reports that during the night 70 pieces of military equipment again entered through the border," Linas Linkevicius told reporters as he arrived for an emergency meeting of European Union foreign ministers.

BBC: 15. August 2014
Britain 'alarmed' by reports of Russian military vehicles entering Ukraine

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond voiced alarm on Friday at reports that Russian military vehicles had crossed into Ukraine overnight, saying it could have "very serious" consequences.

"I'm very alarmed by reports that Russian military vehicles may have crossed the border this morning ... If there are any Russian military personnel or vehicles in eastern Ukraine, they need to be withdrawn immediately or the consequences could be very serious," he told reporters at a European Union foreign ministers' meeting, apparently referring to media reports.

Reuters: 15. August 2014

NATO accuses Russia of escalating Ukraine conflict

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO said on Friday that Russia, while calling for de-escalation of the Ukraine conflict, had in fact been escalating it.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the alliance was checking eyewitness reports in two British newspapers on Friday that a column of at least 23 Russian military vehicles had crossed into Ukraine overnight.

"If confirmed, they are further evidence that Russia is doing the very opposite of what it's saying. Russia has been escalating the conflict, even as it calls for de-escalation," she said in response to a question from Reuters.

"It is high time that Russia did what it says it wants to do, which is to contribute to a peaceful solution. Russia needs to pull back its troops, stop the flow of arms and fighters over the border with Ukraine, stop supporting the separatists and engage in a genuine and sincere dialogue with Ukraine."