Ukraine supports the initiative of a four-day Easter truce
KATERINA TISHCHENKO — WEDNESDAY, 20 APRIL, 2022, 18:26
Ukraine supports the initiative of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of introducing a four-day Easter "humanitarian pause" in Ukraine.
Source : MFA of Ukraine
Quote: "We are grateful to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for the initiative of introducing a four-day Easter "humanitarian pause" in Ukraine, starting from Maundy Thursday, April 21.
We fully share the opinion that a humanitarian pause is necessary for the safe evacuation of thousands of civilians who want to leave the dangerous zones of ongoing and possible hostilities, primarily from long-suffering Mariupol."
Details : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they highly appreciate the readiness of the UN to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population of the most affected regions of Ukraine in the event of a "silence regime" being achieved.
They added that Russia must stop attacks on Ukrainian civilian facilities, stop blockades of Ukrainian cities, and ensure safe access to the population in the temporarily occupied territories for humanitarian personnel and their vehicles and equipment.
"Ukraine has always been and remains committed to resolving the conflict in a peaceful and diplomatic way. We have also reaffirmed our consent to the proposals for a humanitarian truce, submitted by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs - Crisis Coordinator Martin Griffiths during his visit to Ukraine," the Foreign Ministry noted.
Background:
- On April 19, the UN Secretary-General issued a call for a four-day humanitarian pause for Holy Week, starting on Holy Thursday until Easter on Sunday 24 April, to allow a number of humanitarian corridors to open.
- Guterres also noted that the UN is ready to send humanitarian aid to the east of Ukraine during the humanitarian pause.
- The European Union supported this call.
