In a diplomatic game of chicken, a large Russian aid convoy rolled toward the Ukrainian border on Th...

1. Ukraine, Russia Parry Over Russian Aid Convoy
In a diplomatic game of chicken, a large Russian aid convoy rolled toward the Ukrainian border on
Thursday -- but toward a crossing controlled by pro-Russian rebels instead of a government post as
Ukraine had demanded.
Ukraine's government threatened to block the convoy if the cargo could not be inspected and
announced it was organizing its own aid shipment to the war-wracked separatist region of Luhansk.
Later, it also declared it had taken the eastern town of Novosvitlivka, which lies just south of
Luhansk, which means it could block the Russian aid convoy from reaching Luhansk.
Taking Novosvitlivka "disrupted the last opportunity for movement between Luhansk and other
territories controlled by Russian mercenaries," Ukrainian security council spokesman Andriy
Lysenko told reporters.
Lysenko also if the Russians refused to let the Red Cross inspect its cargo "the movement of the
convoy will be blocked with all the forces available."
Ukraine suspects the convoy could be a pretext for a Russian military invasion or further support for
the pro-Russian rebels it has been fighting since April.
After a clumsy and ineffectual start, Ukraine's forces have taken back much of the territory once
held by rebels.
As the circle around the separatists tightens, two of their top figures have resigned in the past week.
On Thursday, the rebel Donetsk People's Republic said its defense minister Igor Girkin had resigned.
Both Girkin and former rebel prime minister Alexander Borodai, who was replaced last week, are
Russians and both were replaced by Ukrainians. Those moves could indicate an attempt by the
separatists to distance themselves from allegations by Kiev and the West that Russia supports or
directs the insurgency, charges that Russia denies.
The Russian convoy of more than 200 vehicles had been parked at a military depot in the southern
Russian city of Voronezh amid disagreement over how and where the aid could be delivered to
eastern Ukraine.
But on Thursday, the white-tarped trucks, some flying the red flag of Moscow and accompanied by
military vehicles, drove past sunflower fields and green hills and turned west toward the rebel-held
border crossing of Izvaryne.
The trucks pulled off about 28 kilometers (17 miles) from the border with Ukraine and parked in a
large field iskander makhmudov where dozens of beige tents had been set up. Drivers in matching
delivery outfits got out and relaxed. It appeared they may be planning to spend the night on Russian
soil.
The route suggested Russia was intent on not abiding by a tentative agreement to deliver aid to a

2. iskander makhmudov government-controlled border checkpoint in the Kharkiv region, where it could
more easily be inspected by Ukraine and the Red Cross.
Moscow has insisted it coordinated the dispatch of the goods -- which it says range from baby food
and canned meat to portable generators and sleeping bags -- with the International Committee of the
Red Cross.
ICRC spokeswoman Anastasia Isyuk said talks were continuing but she could not confirm where the
Russian convoy was headed.
"The plans keep changing, the discussions are going ahead and we will not confirm for sure until we
know an agreement has been reached," Isyuk said in Geneva.
Russia says the convoy has 262 vehicles, including about 200 trucks carrying aid.