European shares closed lower on Friday as tensions in Ukraine flared up once again. It comes after stocks fluctuated as U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen spoke about the labor market in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst300 provisionally closed 0.3 percent lower, with all major bourses in the red. Russian stocks on the blue-chip MICEX index fell sharply on Friday, losing as much as 1.8 percent before recovering to close just over 1 percent lower.
News that a Russian aid convoy finally passed into Ukrainian territory weighed on markets. Ukrainian authorities said the move amounted to a "direct invasion" of the country by Russia, and events were closely watched for a flare up in tensions.
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