Conflicts & War

Zelenskyy denounces Russian capture of humanitarian convoy

International Desk, Mar 23 (EFE).- The president of Ukraine said Wednesday that Russian troops had captured a humanitarian convoy that was heading to Mariupol where some 100,000 people are trapped in “inhumane conditions.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a video in which he focused especially on the situation in Mariupol, where he said that “as of today, there are about 100,000 people in the city. In inhumane conditions. In a complete blockade. No food, no water, no medicine. Under constant shelling, under constant bombing.”

He added that for more than a week the government has been trying to organize stable humanitarian corridors for Mariupol residents to evacuate, but attempts have been thwarted by Russian “shelling or deliberate terror.”

He denounced that on Tuesday a humanitarian convoy was captured near Mangush, while “employees of the State Emergency Service and bus drivers have been taken captive.”

Zelenskyy said that on Tuesday, 7,266 residents of Mariupol were rescued, and that his representatives are trying to arrange humanitarian corridors in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk regions.

He also reported that in the last two weeks his country has received more than 100,000 tons of humanitarian aid.

Regarding negotiations with Moscow, Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv continues to “push Russia towards peace.”

“Ukrainian representatives are continuing negotiations that basically take place daily. It is very hard, sometimes, scandalous. But step by step we are moving forward,” he added.

In this regard, the head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak, said in a video meeting at the Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House (United Kingdom) that Ukraine hopes that the agreements “primarily provide for a ceasefire, withdrawal of Russian troops to the territory of February 23, 2022, as well as consultations and talks on other issues on the return of our territories, the return of full control over the territories within the internationally recognized borders to the Ukrainian authorities.”

Yermak also stressed that such agreements with Russia “should provide for the construction of a new security system for Ukraine.”

“We are ready to talk about any issues, we are ready to meet and these issues need to be addressed. You don’t have to ignore them. Both the issue of Donbas and the issue of Crimea. And above all the issue of ending the war and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory,” said the head of the President’s Office.

“All this should be the subject of conversation. First of all, conversation between the president of Ukraine and the president of Russia.” EFE

int-mmg/tw

Related Articles

Back to top button