This goes to the heart of why it is virtually impossible right now to negotiate with anyone in Moscow as some have supported here.
1. the "aid" convly left Moscow with a large fanfare display all the while Russia "claimed" to have "negotiated" the shipments with the ICRC,and the Ukraine and travelled under the ICRC flag which was not allowed by the ICRC
Both the ICRC and the Ukraine stated there had been no agreement worked out and knew nothing about the shipments.
2. Then they drive to the Ukrainian border yesterday and again Russian "claims" to have reached agreements again with both the ICRC and the Ukraine.
Agreement was 1) under ICRC flags, a ICRC member in each truck and3) agreements from all sides that there will be no fighting along the route
Then late yesterday Moscow started stating more aggressively "there will be serious consequences if the convoy is stopped!".
Now the day this comes across---the convoy simply leaves the border crossing unchecked by the Ukrainians, without the agreed to ICRC member per truck, no return route worked out and on and on.
NOW what is interesting is that every single truck driver is carrying the old style Russian passports from at least 5-7 years ago when the rest of Russian new style passports have been issued the newer ones starting five years ago so are the drivers military using cover passports without their real names?
#Russia's aid convoy is pushing into the war zone without clearance from #Ukraine or the blessing of the Red Cross
http://bbc.in/VKcBsP
So again why is it imperative to negotiate with Russian when they cannot even hold to a ICRC/Ukrainian agreement?
Some bloggers/journalists have been saying with the fighting going badly for the mercenaries Russia has been desperately trying to get the convoy into the Ukraine---knowing full well it will be attacked by "someone" thus delivering the excuse to cross over with their peacekeeping force that is sitting virtually on the border in launch position just waiting for an excuse.
There is the urgent need to get a large number of "peacekeepers" in ---in order to at least state they need to separate the fighting forces and we all have the experiences of Moldavia and Georgia when Russian "peacekeepers arrive" ---they never leave.
Some commenters here need to fully understand what drives Putin---if he is going to negotiate this Tuesday he needs it to be from a position of strength not weakness.
Again this from the BBC article--explains exactly the intent of the convoy from the very beginning and some still want to negotiate with Russia and as I have stated over what?
Notice the link up with the mercenaries as armed guards, the ICRC in fact stating it is not an approved ICRC convy and the IMPLIED and stated direct THREAT by Russia against the Ukraine.
This is playing out exactly as the Ukrainians told the West it would play out.
Russia's foreign ministry said Ukraine had held up the convoy in order to pursue war against rebels in Luhansk, where the aid is destined.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was "not part of that convoy in any way".
Reports suggest the lorries are being escorted by rebel fighters.
"Our humanitarian aid convoy is starting to move towards Luhansk," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement (in Russian).
It warned Ukraine not to take any action against the convoy without specifying the consequences.
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