Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva had a conversation with Head of the Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine Florence Gillette.
Ihor Zhovkva informed the interlocutor about the efforts made by the Ukrainian party within the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk and at the level of diplomatic advisers to the heads of state and government of the countries participating in the "Normandy Four". The Deputy Head of the Office of the President praised the contribution of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to resolving the humanitarian problems caused by the armed conflict in Donbas. Ukraine's interest in deepening cooperation with the ICRC on the full range of humanitarian assistance to the victims on both sides of the line of delimitation was emphasized.
Highly praising the work of the ICRC's field missions in Donbas, Ihor Zhovkva stressed the priority of ensuring their safety and the need to improve their awareness of the security situation. The interlocutors agreed on the need for additional efforts to ensure access of the ICRC and other humanitarian organizations to the citizens of Ukraine illegally detained in the territory of Donbas not controlled by the Ukrainian government, in the occupied Crimea, and in Russia.
During a conversation, the importance of launching the work of the Commission on Missing Persons in Special Circumstances as soon as possible was emphasized, as well as strengthening the work with the Russian Federation on the exchange of detainees. The parties also agreed to develop a number of recommendations from the ICRC to simplify the checkpoint crossing regime on the line of delimitation for the most vulnerable, especially pensioners.
Ihor Zhovkva also thanked the ICRC for its practical assistance in countering the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in the temporarily occupied territories.