News.Kyiv.Me.

Heavy weapons: Ukraine said artillery guns, such as the one pictured above, destroyed the Russian vehicles

Heavy armour: Government forces from Kyiv have been rolling into the rebel-held east – near the Russian border – over the past few days

A statement from the European Union also increased pressure on Russia, saying any military action would be ‘a blatant violation of international law’ and threatening further sanctions.

A spokesman said the union is ‘increasingly concerned at the worsening crisis in eastern Ukraine and its humanitarian impact on the civilian population.

‘Any unilateral military actions on the part of the Russian Federation in Ukraine under any pretext, including humanitarian, will be considered by the European Union as a blatant violation of international law’. 

Th UN also responded to the claims, saying: ‘We are aware of the reports in Ukraine, which we cannot verify independently, and will follow related developments very carefully.’ 

‘Such reports point to the urgent need for immediate de-escalation and resolution of the conflict through dialogue.’

Convoy: Hundreds of trucks carrying Russian humanitarian aid are still waiting not far from the border

The Russian foreign ministry has accused the Ukrainian military of stopping the convoy from getting into the country, despite entry being agreed with Kyiv

However, the Russian news service has since broadcast a statement from Russian defence minister Gen. Maj. Igor Konashenkov saying no convoy had crossed the border. 

French President Francois Hollande has urged Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and called on the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to take all necessary steps to prevent any escalation of conflict.

Hollande was speaking on board the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during a Second World War commemoration ceremony.

A statement from the Russian foreign ministry said: ‘We draw attention to the sharp intensification of military action by Ukrainian forces with the apparent aim to stop the path, agreed on with Kyiv, of a humanitarian convoy across the Russia-Ukraine border’.

After days of controversy, Russia nominally consented to let Ukrainian officials inspect the convoy while it was still on Russian soil and agreed that the Red Cross would distribute the goods in Ukraine’s region of Luhansk.

The twin moves apparently aimed to dispel Ukrainian fears that the operation was a ruse to get military help to the pro-Russian separatists.

Laurent Corbaz, the International Committee of the Red Cross’ director of operations in Europe, described a tentative plan in which the trucks would enter Ukraine with a single Russian driver each – as opposed to the current crew of several people in each truck – accompanied by a Red Cross worker. In line with Red Cross policy, there would be no military escort, he said.

However, some Russian military vehicles were seen near the aid convoy Friday carrying a Russian acronym standing for ‘peacekeeping forces’ – a signal that Moscow was considering a possible military escort.

The fighting in eastern Ukraine has claimed nearly 2,100 lives, half of those in the last few weeks. 

AMBASSADOR SUMMONED AS WEST CONDEMNS INCURSION 

– By MailOnline Deputy Political Editor Tom McTague

Britain this afternoon summoned the Russian ambassador for emergency talks, amid reports of a military incursion into Ukraine.

Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko has been asked to ‘clarify’ the reports after the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko held talks with David Cameron today.

Mr Poroshenko told the Prime Minister that a military convoy had crossed from Russia into Ukraine overnight.

He added that a ‘majority of the machines had been eliminated by the Ukrainian artillery at night’.

According to Mr Poroshenko the Prime Minister ‘reaffirmed his strong and gradual support to Ukraine and the actions of the President’ in dealing with the Russian incursion.

Arriving in Brussels today, the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said he was ‘very alarmed’ by the reports.

Condemnation: Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, left, told Birtain about the attacks today. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, right, had earlier said any incursions carry ‘very serious’ consequences

He said: ‘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.’

Mr Hammond added: ‘We would urge the Russians to withdraw any military personnel that they have inside Ukraine and stop supporting the separatists as they have been doing for the last few months.

‘The situation is potentially very dangerous and that’s why we are here today discussing it.’

Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirmed the incursion.

He said: ‘We see a continuous flow of weapons and fighters from Russia into eastern Ukraine, and it is a clear demonstration of continued Russian involvement in [its] destabilisation.’ 

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