WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon on Friday condemned the movement of a Russian convoy into eastern Ukraine, calling it a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and demanding that it be withdrawn.
“Russia must remove its vehicles and its personnel from the territory of Ukraine immediately,” the Pentagon’s press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters. “Failure to do so will result in additional costs and isolation.”
He said the U.S. is not sure of the contents of the Russian trucks. Reports from Ukraine said trucks carrying food, water, generators and sleeping bags crossed into rebel-held regions of Ukraine on Friday morning without the permission of the government in Kiev.
Ukraine called the Russian move a “direct invasion.”
Kirby noted that Russia’s defense minister had recently “guaranteed” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that the Russian military would not invade Ukraine.