Statements of the MFA and President of Ukraine in connection with illegal crossing of the state border of Ukraine by the Russian convoy

MFA: 22. August 2014, 13:21 LT

On August, 22 Russia began smuggling humanitarian aid to Ukraine, ignoring established international rules, procedures and agreements, without the consent and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross. 

Although the border and customs services of Ukraine have already started clearance of the Russian convoy, in the morning Ukrainian officials were blocked by the Russian forces and detached from the inspection of the rest of the trucks in the column, despite previous agreements and the fact that they had been invited to the territory of Russia. We are concerned about the safety of our employees. Moreover, deep concern is raised because so far neither Ukrainian side nor the ICRC are aware of the content of the cargo.

The fact that Russian trucks entered the territory of Ukraine without proper border and customs procedures and that the cargo was not donated to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross indicates deliberate and aggressive nature of Russia’s actions.

A local militaman holds a Russian national flag as lorries, part of a Russian humanitarian convoy cross the Ukrainian border at the Izvarino custom control checkpoint, on Aug. 22, 2014.

As we have previously emphasized the Russian side is fully responsible for the safety of the cargo. It is important to note that the Ukraine has already taken all necessary measures to ensure the security of the cargo.

In order to prevent any provocations we have issued all necessary instructions for the safe passing of the convoy. Despite all attempts by the Ukrainian side the contact between the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the one of Russia, has not been established, which is critical to ensure security along the route. We point out that terrorists carry out mortar attacks along the possible route of the cargo.

We also are not aware of the content of the agreements of the Russian side with Luhansk insurgents and we do not exclude the possibility of any planned provocation.

We consider this act to be another flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law, including inviolability of borders, non-interference in the internal affairs of another state and bona fide fulfillment of international obligations by the Russian Federation.

We call on all international partners to join the strong condemnation of illegal and aggressive acts of the Russian Federation.

President of Ukraine: Ukraine offers Russia to return situation with humanitarian cargo to the framework of the international legal field

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko says that Ukraine is concerned over the situation with Russian convoy which entered the territory of Ukraine, first of all over the security on which Russia and terrorists took responsibility.

At the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius in Kyiv, the Head of State noted: "We will do everything possible to prevent more serious consequences".

The President informed that pursuant to his instruction, Foreign Minister Klimkin and Head of the Presidential Administration Borys Lozhkin had contacted their Russian counterparts, "expressed our concern and offered to return the situation in the framework of the international law".

Petro Poroshenko noted that Ukraine had conveyed its humanitarian cargo to the ICRC a few days ago. Representatives of customs and border services were sent to the Russian checkpoint "Donetsk" with an instruction to permit the access of humanitarian columns from Russia under the aegis of the ICRC and accompanied by it. Today, the President said, these arrangements were violated. Russia decided to neglect them and unilaterally refuse from the participation of the Red Cross.

The President emphasized that Ukraine had fulfilled its obligations, 35 Russian vehicles had been registered. The only factor that prevented the Red Cross from fulfilling the humanitarian mission was the shelling of the roads by terrorists on the way of the humanitarian assistance to Luhansk. "The Red Cross didn't receive confirmation from terrorists on the guarantees of ceasefire," the Head of State informed. Instead, the President noted, according to the available information, a column of more than 100 vehicles entered the territory of Ukraine without customs examination, border crossing registration and convoy of the Red Cross which is a flagrant violation of the international law.