Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia is willing to “cooperate” with the UN to “relieve” the civilian population in Ukraine, where Moscow has launched a military offensive.
“Our main goal is to protect the civilian population. We are ready to cooperate with our colleagues at the UN to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population,” Lavrov said at a press conference with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Moscow.
Guterres on Tuesday urged Ukraine and Russia to work in coordination with the UN to ensure the opening of humanitarian corridors in Ukraine.
“I suggested setting up a contact group bringing together Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations to explore the possibilities of opening humanitarian corridors,” Guterres said at the press conference. Said.
It is urgent to create these “really safe and effective” civilian evacuation corridors, he said.
Guterres specifically mentioned the plight of civilians still trapped in the Azovstal metallurgical complex in Mariupol (southeast), which was attacked by the Russian army.
The UN is “willing to fully mobilize its human and logistical resources to help save lives in Mariupol,” said the UN.
source: Noticias
