Russian Aid Convoy Starts Crossing Into Ukraine

Several trucks carrying Russian aid have been allowed to enter eastern Ukraine after being held at a border crossing for a week.

Russia has been is trying to send a 280-lorry relief convoy to help civilians caught up in the fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists.

Ukraine has been reluctant to let the convoy through over fears it is carrying supplies for the rebels, despite Moscow's insistence the goods were simply humanitarian aid.

Ukraine insisted the aid convoy entered under the auspices of the Red Cross

The transit comes as the Ukrainian president said he would tell Russia's Vladimir Putin to rein in pro-Moscow separatists, when the two leaders meet next week.

Petro Poroshenko said he would tell President Putin that Ukraine had "a strong country, a strong army" behind him.

President Poroshenko is due to meet Russia's leader next week

He said: "In order to have solid positions in peace negotiations, we have to be strong, to have the unity of the people, a strong country, a strong army."

"We are capable of defending our sovereignty, our independence and our territorial integrity - we are fighting for the independence of Ukraine. Together we will win for sure."

Mr Poroshenko spoke as government forces, despite taking heavy losses themselves, thrust deeper into rebel-held eastern territory, putting pressure on separatists.

Ukraine said it captured two Russian armoured vehicles

After a faltering start in April, government forces' success has alarmed some Western leaders who believe Mr Putin is being boxed in a corner.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to visit Kiev on Saturday in support for Mr Poroshenko, however diplomatic sources said she will also push Ukraine for a ceasefire to prevent a Putin backlash.

Fierce fighting has continued in the East, with 16 Ukrainian special forces troops killed in fighting on Wednesday night in the town of Ilovaisk, near Donetsk.

Sources said Germany's Angela Merkel would push for a ceasefire

Suspicion still surrounds the motives of the Russian convoy, which left a depot near Moscow more than a week ago, and claimed by opponents to being a 'Trojan horse'.

Ukrainian officials have also claimed they have discovered Russian military vehicles operating inside its borders.

The 280-truck convoy departed from near Moscow more than seven days ago

On Thursday, security spokesman Andriy Lysenko said: "Ukrainian soldiers captured two armoured vehicles of Russia's Pskov Airbourne division in a battle near Luhansk.

"One of the vehicles had a full set of documents, from driver's licences to military documents."

Russia immediately rejected allegations that it had sent vehicles into Ukraine.

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