KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKY, Rostov Region, August 15 (RIA Novosti) — Russian Emergencies Ministry representatives escorting humanitarian aid to eastern Ukraine are holding talks with Ukraine to hand over the cargo, a source familiar with the situation told journalists Friday.
“Right now the main issue in handing over the humanitarian aid is over Ukraine’s position. Our side is ready to present all of the documentation and other information in regard to the cargo,” the source said.
Earlier in the day, members of the press, including from the BBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, randomly inspected 20 different trucks, the contents of which included bags of grain, infant food, drinking water and mobile diesel generators.
The 280 trucks are carrying about 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid, including 400 tons of grain, 100 tons of sugar, 62 tons of infant food, 54 tons of medical supplies and medication, 12,000 sleeping bags and 69 mobile electrical generators.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the convoy is currently in Russia’s southern Rostov Region.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin discussed by telephone practical steps that should be taken to ensure the speedy implementation of the initiative to deliver humanitarian aid to the citizens of eastern Ukraine trapped in armed battles between separatist forces and the Ukrainian Army.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that Ukraine would accept humanitarian aid as long as it complies with international law and is delivered by the Red Cross.
At the same time, the country’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that Ukraine would not allow a Russian convoy of humanitarian aid to pass through the eastern Kharkiv Region.
