United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was in Moscow on Tuesday to try to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine “as soon as possible”. He will then travel to kyiv to do the same with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Although the situation in Ukraine is complex, with different interpretations of what is going on there it is possible to have a serious conversation about how best to work to reduce people’s suffering he pleaded before the first meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
” What interests us more is finding ways to create conditions for an effective conversation, to create conditions for a ceasefire as soon as possible. “
The meeting with Mr. Lavrov did not, however, result in any announcement of importance, the two men going there with statements of circumstances that did not allow to expect progress in favor of a ceasefire.
Mr. Guterres said he proposed creating a contact group bringing together Moscow, Kyiv, the Red Cross and the United Nations to find ways to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, mainly under Russian control, and deliver humanitarian aid for the remaining population. , living in appalling conditions.
In recent weeks, kyiv and Moscow have often agreed on the opening of humanitarian corridors, in cooperation with the Red Cross. Often, they do not work, or very little, and are only for the evacuation of civilians. No humanitarian aid from Kyiv reached Mariupol.
Kyiv and Moscow have systematically accused each other of violating agreements, while the Red Cross avoids taking sides.
” Thousands of civilians are in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance. The United Nations is ready to fully mobilize its human and logistical resources to help save lives in Mariupol. “
According to Ukrainian authorities, about 100,000 civilians still remain in Mariupol, where the last Ukrainian resistance fighters are confined to the massive Azovstal metallurgical complex, surrounded by Russian forces.
Indirectly referring to reports that the Russian army was evacuating civilians from Mariupol to their territory against their will, Mr. Guterres insisted that Mariupol residents be allowed to leave the city. in any direction.
Mr. Lavrov, for his part, assured that Russia is ready to cooperate with the UN. Our primary goal is to protect civilian populations. We stand ready to work with our UN colleagues to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations did he declare.
The head of Russia’s diplomacy, however, rejected the idea launched last week by the Ukrainian government to conduct talks in Mariupol itself. He also said it was too early to consider the intervention of a mediator in the peace talks.
Source: Radio-Canada
