UN Security Council calls for global ceasefire during COVID-19 pandemic

02.07.2020 09:23

Ukrinform

The UN Security Council has approved a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in all armed conflicts (including in Donbas) and for humanitarian and medical assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, spokesperson for the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN Oleg Nikolenko has said.

"One hundred days after the UN Secretary-General's call for a global ceasefire during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Security Council finally approved the long-awaited resolution today," the diplomat wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday, July 1.

The document, in particular, demands a "general and immediate cessation of hostilities" in all conflict situations and calls on all parties to armed conflicts to "engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days."

According to the resolution, this should enable the safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance, provisions of related services by impartial humanitarian actors, in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law and refugee law.

Ukraine has repeatedly expressed its support for the UN Secretary-General's initiative and the international community's efforts for a global ceasefire during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the Russian side tried to manipulate this initiative and stated that this first required the lifting of all international sanctions, including those imposed on Russia over its aggression in Donbas and the occupation of Crimea.