Ukraine crisis: Merkel to arrive in Kiev as crisis mounts

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to arrive in Ukraine for talks, a day after calling Russia’s decision to send an unauthorised aid convoy there a “dangerous escalation”.

More than 100 Russian lorries entered eastern Ukraine on Friday without permission from Ukraine’s government.

Some of the lorries have now begun crossing back into Russia.

Kiev and Western officials fear the convoy could be part of a general military intervention by Russia.

But Kremlin officials say it is only carrying generators, food and drink.The lorries had already been waiting at the border for a week. The Russians said they could not wait any longer, owing to the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, which is held by pro-Russian separatists.

The first lorries have now reached the besieged rebel-held city of Luhansk.

Four months of fighting in the region have left more than 2,000 people dead and caused more than 330,000 people to flee their homes.