MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry said it agreed to take a group of Ukrainian inspectors in order to carry out an observation flight over Russia's Belgorod and Kursk regions.
"Assuming the commitment to our international obligations regarding the Vienna document, we have agreed yet again to take the Ukrainian group onto our territory," Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Monday.
"During the inspection the Ukrainian representatives will be given the opportunity to inspect the named region (including using the helicopter Russia will provide)," Antonov said.
Our Ukrainian partners will be able "to make sure that no military activities threatening Ukraine are being conducted," the deputy minister said.
"Along the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) communications channels Ukraine has sent a request to hold a so-called inspection of the named district in Russia between March 18 to March 24, 2014 in the framework of the Vienna document on measures to enhance trust and security of 2011," Antonov said.
"The purpose is to check the districts of the Belgorod and Kursk regions bordering Ukraine concerning 'unannounced military activities'," Antonov said.