Russian Military Vehicles Cross Border into Ukraine
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(KIEV, Ukraine) — A U.S. official confirmed on Friday that Russian-made armored personnel carriers entered into Ukraine overnight.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Friday spoke with his Russian counterpart to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine, according to a readout of their phone call from Rear Adm. John Kirby. During the call, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu reportedly “guaranteed” that no Russian military personnel were involved in the humanitarian convoy. He also assured Hagel that the convoy was not a pretext to further Russian intervention in Ukraine.
Col. Anatoly Murachevsky of the Ukraine Anti-Terrorist Command confirmed to ABC News on on Friday that a “large number” of military vehicles had crossed into Ukraine near the city of Izvarino. That area is controlled by Russian rebels.
The U.S. Department of Defense readout also said that Shoygu and Hagel agreed to maintain open lines of communication, and touched on the need for the two countries to have bilateral follow-up meetings of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
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