By John Ikani
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to set up humanitarian corridors in parts of Ukraine badly hit by fighting.
Both sides say the understanding involves a temporary cease-fire to allow the evacuation of citizens.
Speaking with journalists after the second round of ‘peace talks’ in Western Belarus, Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said: “The second round of talks is over. Unfortunately, Ukraine does not have the results it needs yet. There are decisions only on the organisation of humanitarian corridors.”
According to him, the process will include the supply of medicine and food to sites “with the most intensive fighting with a possibility of [a temporary] cease-fire in the areas where such evacuations will take place.”
Also confirming the agreed set up of humanitarian corridors, Russia’s main negotiator and former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky said:
“The main question that we decided on today was the issue of saving people, civilians, who are in the zone of military clashes.
“Russia calls on civilians who find themselves in this situation, if military actions continue, to use these humanitarian corridors.”
Another Russian negotiator, nationalist lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, said the agreements will be “implemented in the near future.”
Ukraine says at least 350 civilians have been killed since President Vladimir Putin launched an attack on Ukraine last week.
Moscow claims it does not target civilian areas, despite widespread evidence otherwise.
