Fears grow of invasion as Putin sends aid to rebels
The risk of war in Ukraine lurched closer last night after President Putin
announced a “humanitarian convoy” to rebel-held cities in the east, the
formula that Western leaders warned that Russia would use as a pretext for
an invasion.
According to the Kremlin, Mr Putin told José Manuel Barroso, the EU president,
that Russia would send the convoy under the auspices of the International
Red Cross. Mr Barrosos’saccount of the telephone call made no reference to
such an agreement but stressed that he warned Russia “against any unilateral
military actions in Ukraine, under any pretext, including humanitarian”.
The Ukrainian foreign