Kiev, Aug 12 (IANS): Authorities in Kiev Tuesday set new conditions for receiving humanitarian aid from Russia, saying Ukraine will not allow the convoy of 280 trucks to cross its border.
"We exclude the possibility of any movement of Russian convoy on the Ukrainian territory," Xinhua quoted presidential administration's deputy head Valery Chaly as saying during a press briefing.
Chaly said the cargo from the Russian trucks should be reloaded onto the vehicles provided by the Ukrainian side on the border.
He added that Kiev will not allow an escort of the humanitarian convoy by Russian military forces or representatives of the Russian emergency ministry.
Earlier Tuesday, Ukrainian military spokesperson Andrei Lysenko said his country was ready to receive the humanitarian aid from Russia only if the trucks pass through Kiev-controlled border checkpoints and be accompanied by the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The trucks, carrying around 2,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid, reportedly left Moscow region Tuesday morning for crisis-hit eastern Ukraine.
Most of the humanitarian supplies were food, medical equipment and medicines, sleeping bags and portable power stations of various capacities, according to media reports.