BRUSSELS, August 6 (RIA Novosti) – NATO is concerned that Russia could send troops into the eastern regions of Ukraine under the “pretext” of a humanitarian mission, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said Wednesday.
"We share the concern that Russia could use the pretext of a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission as an excuse to send troops into Eastern Ukraine," the NATO representative told reporters.
The spokeswoman added that "any deterioration of the humanitarian situation in separatist-held areas of Eastern Ukraine is due to Russia’s continued destabilization of Ukraine."
On Tuesday, Russia called for an emergency UN Security Council session on the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, which has been embroiled in Kiev’s military crackdown on independence supporters. Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said Moscow is seeking full transparency and suggested sending humanitarian convoys to eastern Ukraine under the auspice of and accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
At the same meeting, UN humanitarian official John Ging said that at least 1,367 people have been killed by fighting in eastern Ukraine since mid-April. Ging added that the humanitarian situation in the region is deteriorating.
The West has repeatedly accused Russia of building up forces on its border with eastern Ukraine and supplying independence supporters with weapons, a claim Moscow has rejected.
The Russian Defense Ministry on July 27 said in the past four months 18 international inspection teams have visited the areas in Russia bordering Ukraine under the Vienna Document of 2011 and the Treaty on Open Skies and found “no violations or undeclared military activity.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said that before accusing Moscow real evidence must be shown.
