We welcome the final agreement concerning all variables involved in the urgent delivery of Russian humanitarian relief aid to southeastern Ukraine using the Izvarino-Lugansk route. This is the result of intense and multidimensional efforts which, in addition to the practical organisation involved in transporting a large batch of food, medicines, essentials and electric power generators – already a major logistical challenge – involved maintaining intensive contacts across various areas with the Ukrainian side, as well as the leadership and employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international partners. As a result, we have managed to facilitate the speedy and effective achievement of our main goal, which was to deliver and distribute the much needed humanitarian aid to southeastern Ukraine.
We would like to express our appreciation to the ICRC leaders and employees for their effective cooperation. It was not easy, but we managed to achieve the desired interim result.
Notably, we have reached agreements regarding the delivery, under the auspices of the ICRC, of humanitarian aid to southeastern Ukraine from other Ukrainian regions.
Importantly, the convoys should now be able to reach their destinations without any mishaps. The Russian side confirms its security guarantees for the ongoing relief effort. As is known, similar guarantees have also been provided by the Ukrainian authorities and self-defence fighters.
We warn against possible provocations with the goal of disrupting the delivery.
We urge the conflicting sides to declare a cease-fire for the duration of this delivery and suggest that the UN Security Council make a statement to this effect.
We count on the support of the international community regarding further efforts to alleviate the humanitarian plight in southeastern Ukraine.
21 August 2014
