Lavrov: There is no reason to rely on Kiev’s compliance with international humanitarian law
The Kyiv authorities and nationalists are preventing the free exit of civilians, using them as human shields, and placing heavy weapons in residential areas.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this at a meeting with the President of the ICRC, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Today we spoke in detail about the political side of the matter, about how the Kiev authorities and nationalists who control various settlements are trying to prevent the free exit of civilians, trying to use them as human shields, placing heavy weapons in city blocks and committing other actions directly contrary to the international humanitarian plan.
We have listened to the recommendations of our colleagues from the International Red Cross regarding those solutions that they consider important for more effectively addressing the problems of humanitarian access and the functioning of humanitarian corridors. Mr. Maurer prepared these recommendations based on the results of his trip to Kyiv, and we welcomed the willingness of the Red Cross to direct available resources to help people in need in Ukraine, the DPR and the LPR.
And we also note that the Red Cross has traditionally strived to serve as an impartial and independent mediator within its mandate,” the minister said.
He emphasized that the Russian side has no reason to “rely on the conscientious fulfillment by the Ukrainian authorities of their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
“Of course, we expect that measures will be taken to ensure information exchange through the channels of the International Committee of the Red Cross in such a way that this occurs in the interests of solving problems, and not for their politicization,” Lavrov added.
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