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Wary Ukraine Tells Russia Red Cross Must Supervise Any Aid Convoy

A Russian convoy of 280 trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Ukraine set off on Tuesday.
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MOSCOW — Some 2,000 tons of Russian aid being driven to Ukraine will only be allowed across the border under supervision of the Red Cross, Ukraine said Tuesday. The United States has expressed fears the 280-truck convoy - which Russia says is carrying grain, baby food, medicine, and generators - could be used as a pretext for military intervention. Valeriy Chaly, deputy head of Ukraine's presidential administration, told The Associated Press that Kiev would allow the trucks to transfer aid to ICRC vehicles at the border. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf earlier said the U.S. was "concerned Russia could try to use a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation as a pretense for inserting elements of military force into Ukraine."

NATO said some 45,000 Russian troops have amassed at the border and there was a "high probability" of a Kremlin military intervention. Russia said the aid would be delivered with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). An ICRC representative told NBC News on Tuesday the convoy's departure was a "surprise," and later told the AP the ICRC had no information on its whereabouts.

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— Albina Kovalyova and Alexander Smith

The Associated Press contributed to this report.