Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                  Separatists Shoot Down Ukrainian Fighter Jet

   by VOA News

   Pro-Russian separatists shot down a Ukrainian Mig-29 fighter jet Sunday
   in the war-torn eastern region of the country.

   A military spokesman said the pilot ejected from the plane and was
   rescued from the Luhansk area.

   Meanwhile, the French news agency reports officials of the
   International Committee of the Red Cross have arrived in Russia near
   Ukraine's border to start inspections on a huge Russian aid convoy
   parked near Ukraine's border.

   An ICRC spokeswoman told the news agency that an agreement was reached
   Saturday on how to inspect the convoy.  She said she doubted the
   inspections would begin Sunday.  However, Ukrainian officials said they
   have begun inspecting the aid convoy.

   ''The nearly 300 truck convoy parked outside the Russian town of
   Kamensk-Shakhtinsky is awaiting security guarantees to allow it to
   cross into Ukraine with the humanitarian aid.  The ICRC would then have
   the responsibility for distributing the aid to Ukrainians caught in the
   conflict between Ukrainian forces and separatists.

   Moscow said the mission was purely humanitarian, but Kyiv and the West
   have voiced concerns it could serve as a "Trojan Horse" for an invasion
   or a way to re-arm pro-Russian rebels who have suffered previous
   losses.

   The foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany are
   meeting Sunday in Berlin to discuss the tensions in Ukraine.

   German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told Bild newspaper
   that he hoped the talks would help put an end to violence in eastern
   Ukraine and help provide residents of the war-torn region with
   humanitarian aid.

   French President Francois Hollande and European Commission President
   Jose Manuel Barroso discussed the situation Saturday.  Afterward,
   Hollande called on Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity
   and urged Kyiv to exercise restraint in its military activities.  He
   said France was ready for a new summit on the issue and added that
   Sunday's meeting could be used as a first step toward that end.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/separatists-shoot-down-ukrainian-figh
   ter-jet/2416056.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/separatists-shoot-down-ukrainian-fighter-jet/2416056.html