Ukrainian refugees are accommodated in a sports hall equipped with camp beds in the small Bavarian village of Eichenau near Munich, southern Germany, on March 24, 2022. (CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP)
MOSCOW/LYIV/UNITED NATIONS/KIEV – Ukraine. set up seven humanitarian corridors on Thursday to evacuate civilians, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported, citing Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.
At a media briefing, Vereshchuk said 45 buses are set to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol in Donetsk, adding that the evacuation will continue in towns and villages in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and the central Kiev region.
Ukraine established on Wednesday nine humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from the above-mentioned two regions
Ukraine established on Wednesday nine humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from the above-mentioned two regions.
The 15-member United Nations Security Council on Wednesday failed to adopt a resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Two members – Russia and China – voted in favor of the text and 13 others abstained. The text submitted by Russia was rejected.
To be adopted, a Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, Britain, France or the United States.
Russia's draft resolution expresses grave concern about reports of civilian casualties and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine, including the growing number of internally displaced persons and refugees.
READ MORE: Zelensky renews peace talks offer with Putin
The draft text also calls for the protection of civilians, including humanitarian and medical personnel, respect for international law and the protection of civilian objects and critical infrastructure, safe and unhindered evacuation of all civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access in Ukraine.
Since the conflict erupted on Feb 24, the council has held three briefings on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine – on Feb 28, March 7 and March 17.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues on Thursday as relevant parties are working to broker a peaceful solution.
Volunteers load a vehicle with sandbags to defend the city, in Odesa, southern Ukraine, on March 23, 2022. (PETROS GIANNAKOURIS / AP)
Putin talks with Bennett, Scholz
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday to discuss the Ukrainian situation.
Bennett voiced his assessments of the situation regarding Ukraine and the ongoing negotiation process between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, the Kremlin said in a brief statement.
Putin shared his views on the Moscow-Kiev peace talks and the development of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, it added.
Earlier in the day, Putin had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss the same issue.
In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, March 24, 2022. (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE VIA AP)
Zelensky seeks French support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday addressed the French National Assembly via video link, asking France to support Ukraine with military equipment and aircraft.
He thanked the French government for discussions and negotiations, and called on France to add sanctions against Russia.
‘US seeks hostility’
The United States would not like to see a rapid completion of the Moscow-Kiev peace talks but hopes that Russia is mired in prolonged hostilities, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.
"It is unprofitable for Americans that this (negotiation) process will be completed quickly. They want to continue to send weapons to Ukraine," Lavrov said during a meeting with students and teachers of Russia's MGIMO University.
"Apparently, they (Americans) want to keep us in a state of hostilities for as long as possible," he said.
