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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Russia hopes Ukraine’s intention to start clearing Russian relief cargo true — FM

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Russia’s humanitarian aid convoy of trucks sets off to Ukraine border

MOSCOW, August 21. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry hopes that Ukraine’s intention to start the inspection and clearance of Russian relief cargo is true.

“We could welcome the move in hope that the relief aid will finally reach the people in south-east Ukraine,” Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in an interview with the Russian News Service on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, over the past six months we have got accustomed to the fact that statements made by the Ukrainian side are denied by other statements made by the same Ukrainian side. Therefore, we need to be very cautious,” Zakharova went on to say.

“If the remarks (that the Ukrainian side is starting to inspect and clear the relief cargo) are true, we can not only welcome this move, but express the hope that a series of absurd, strange and inhumane actions linked to the delivery of humanitarian cargo to south-east Ukraine will stop,” Zakharova said.

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Ukraine Russian Foreign Ministry Eastern Ukraine Humanitarian aid

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