Kiev says Russia has invaded as 'aid' trucks cross border

Ukraine declared yesterday that Russia had launched a "direct invasion" of its territory after Moscow - frustrated by delays - sent a convoy of 130 aid trucks across the border into eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian rebels are fighting government forces.

Moscow, which has thousands of troops close to the Russian side of the border, warned against any attempt to "disrupt" the convoy, which it said was a purely humanitarian operation; it did not say what action it might take if Ukraine's armed forces intervened. The European Union urged Russia to reverse what it called a clear violation of the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko described the entry of the trucks without Kiev's permission as a "flagrant violation of international law".

However, a senior security chief said Ukrainian forces would not attack the trucks, and had allowed them in, even without proper clearance, to avoid "provocations".

The Ukraine conflict has driven relations between Moscow and the West to their lowest level since the cold war, with Western states imposing economic sanctions on Moscow and the Kremlin retaliating.

Nato has deployed extra troops in member states bordering Russia, including the Baltic states and Poland.

Kiev called on international allies to unite in "a decisive condemnation of illegal and aggressive actions" by Russia.