US Ambassador to Ukraine: Russia air defense system protecting rebels
KYIV, Ukraine, Nov. 14 (UPI) — U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt said Friday that the U.S. has evidence a “Russian air defense system was operating near separatist convoy in Donetsk.”
The presence of the air defense system, he said, “suggests Russian forces were protecting” the rebel convoy.
The revelation followed NATO Commander Philip Breelove’s assessment on Thursday that there is “more evidence separatists there are getting lots of help.” The OSCE has reported its monitoring drones deployed in eastern Ukraine were “being targeted by high-end antiaircraft weapons and jammers.”
Breedlove earlier in the week confirmed “Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defense systems and Russian combat troops” were observed crossing the border into Ukraine, lamenting, “The cease-fire is in name only at this point.”
We have information that Russian air defense system was operating near separatist convoy in Donetsk- suggests Russian forces were protecting
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@GeoffPyatt) November 13, 2014
Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen, Assistant Secretary-General ad interim for U.N. Political Affairs, told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine is under “continuous and serious strain.”
According to the Minsk Protocol, all parties to the Ukraine conflict agreed on Sept. 5 to de-escalate the crisis through the institution of an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of illegal armed groups, mercenaries and military equipment — two stipulations that have largely been ignored.
- Russia’s PM Medvedev: Lift sanctions, improve relations
- United Nations holds emergency meeting on Russian military presence in Ukraine
- NATO commander confirms new Russia convoy entered Ukraine
- Report: Russian aircraft encounters at Cold War levels
Open all references in tabs: [1 – 8]