U.S. President Barack Obama agreed in a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi that any Russian intervention in Ukraine, including actions "under the guise of 'humanitarian' assistance," would result in further Western sanctions on Russia's already teetering economy.
Any actions that do not receive the formal authorization of the Ukrainian government "would violate international law and would lead to additional sanctions," according to a statement published Monday on the White House website.
Russia on Tuesday sent 280 trucks bearing humanitarian aid to Ukraine amid international fears that Moscow could use the deliveries as a pretext for an invasion in support of pro-Russian separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported. Fighting between the rebels and the Ukrainian armed forces in eastern Ukraine has seen over a hundred thousand people flee their homes, according to the UN.
The convey, which left from an area near Moscow, will take several days to traverse the 1,000 kilometers to eastern Ukraine, ITAR-Tass reported.
The EU and U.S. in July slapped their harshest sanctions yet on Russia over its alleged backing of separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine, barring state-owned Russian banks from raising long-term debt in Western capital markets and banning a range of technology exports to Russia.
The EU and U.S. have reiterated that the sanctions may be escalated at any point if Russia fails to change its course in Ukraine.
See also:
Kerry Hopes Russia and Ukraine Can Work Together to Resolve Political Tension
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
![paiment methods](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/contribute/payment_icons.png)
Remind me later.