MOSCOW, August 23 (RIA Novosti) – The United Nations should be concerned not about the arrival of Russian humanitarian aid in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, but by the fact that the trucks reached the city so late, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Saturday.
“Ban Ki-moon voiced concern with the humanitarian convoy heading to Luhansk. Why is Ban not concerned that the humanitarian convoy hadn’t reached Luhansk earlier?” Rogozin wrote on his Twitter page.
On August 14, the trucks with Russian humanitarian aid arrived at the border, but Ukraine began customs clearance only on August 21. On Friday, the convoy crossed the border and arrived in Luhansk, the city struggling daily without regular food supplies, water, electricity and under constant shelling.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry described the convoy crossing the Russian border as a violation of international norms and urged its international partners to condemn the Russia’s move.
Later, UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern over the Russian aid convoy crossing the border into Ukraine.
Moscow reminded the UN that Russia received a formal agreement from Kiev authorities for the passage of the humanitarian convoy through the Ukrainian border on August 12.
The humanitarian disaster in Luhansk, controlled by independence supporters, occurred after the Ukrainian army had blocked approaches to the city.
